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ILLIAM  CORNER. 


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San  Antonio  de  Bexar 


A  OriDK  A XI)   HISTORY 


COMPir,P:D    AND    liniTHI)    BY 

WILLIAxM  CORNER 

ll 


ILL  USTRA  TED 


San  Antonio.  Texas 
\\  A  I  X  li  k  I  n  ci  ic   &    Corner 

CllRISlMAS,    1800 


C()]'VKI<-.IIT,    ISSIO,     HV 

I'.AIXIJRIIXUv  cS:  CORNl': 
A  1. 1,    KIC.iiTS    RKSICRVlvI). 


PR  I{  PACK. 


It  \-et  remains  forme  to  express  thanks  to  my  helpers.  To  such  Texans  as 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Maverick,  Mrs.  Canterbury,  Dr.  Cupples,  General  H.  P.  Bee.  Dr. 
Herff,  Colonel  I'ord,  Colonel  Withers,  Mr.  John  Dobbin  and  to  others  I  owe  much 
more  than  perhaps  they  are  aware  of,  for  it  was  my  talks  with  "  old-timers  "  that 
put  me  in  touch  and  sympathy  with  theirs  and  earlier  times.  Not  all,  of 
course,  that  I  have  learned  a])OUt  vSan  Antonio  has  been  herein  written  down,  but 
every  smallest  detail  was  counted  by  me  as  a  help  towards  the  better  understanding 
of  my  subject.  I  was  continually  impressed  by  the  excellence  and  accuracy  of 
Sidney  Lanier's  Historical  .Sketch,  and  designed  very  early  that  it  sliould  form  a 
])art  of  this  work.  To  ]^)ishop  Nera/.  I  owe  thanks  for  a  glim]>se  of  the  older 
Church  Records.  As  to  the  County  Records,  the  kind  directions  of 
Messrs.  Thad.  Smith  and  Theo.  Rozeine,  have  been  of  much  service  to  me.  To 
all  these  mentioned,  and  to  many  others  who  have  unconsciously  helped  me  at 
the  cost  of  being  bore;l,  I  return  my  thanks  ;  nor  do  I  forget  that  an  acknowledge- 
ment is  here  due  to  my  brotlier,  Charles  Corner,  tor  work  and  encourage- 
ment. I  trust  my  book  will  not  only  be  a  satisfaction  to  the  inquiring  visitor,  but 
I  should  like  to  think  lliat  it  could  furnish  a  few  notes  and  suggestions  to  a 
future  historian  of  Texas. 

Further  than  these  remarks,  I  ha\e  no  use  for  the  preiatory  privilege,  so  for 
the  rest,  "  for  better  or  for  worse,"  my  book,  with  its  illustrations,  shall  .speak  for 
it.sclf. 

December.   IS'.K).  \V.  C. 


781082 


COXTHXTS. 


PACK 

Introductory •.    .    .    .  1 

Railroads 3 

Mallory    Line  of    Steamers 4      ^V 

Transfer 4s^ 

Hacks  and  Carriages 4 

Hotels 4 

Boarding  and  Lodging  Houses,   Flats 5 

Restaurants ....  o 

Street  Car  Lines  and  Street  Railways (i 

What  There  Is  to  See 7 

The  Alamo  Church  as  it  is  in  ISSX) 8 

vSome  Further  Notes  on  the  Alamo 8 

The  Cathedral  of  vSan  Fernando 12 

The  Missions- 
How  to  Get  to  the  Missions 13 

Mission  Concepcion 14 

Mission    San    Jose 17 

Mission   San    Juan i!il 

Mission  vSan  Francisco  de  la  Kspada Jl 

The  Plazas 24 

The  MiIvITarv  Establish:mext— 

Headquarters  Department  of  Texas  and  Fort  Sam  Houston 2o 

Military    Drills 2(> 

Some  Further  Notes  on  Military  Affairs -' 

Churches •">! 

Educational >''2 

International  Fair  Grounds 33 

Riverside  Park,  San  Pedro  Park 34 

Opera   Houses o4 

Public  Halls 34 

Newspapers 34 

Stock    Yards 35 

City  Additions •     .    •  35 

Artesian  Wells 35 

Real  Estate,  Land  Grants  and  Field  Notes  of  Town  Tract 3(3  to  3!t 

Public   Buildings ■  39 

Banks 40 

San   Antonio   Club 4il 

Other    Clubs 4(i 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association 4i> 

Military  or  Militia  Organizations 4(1 

Friendly    Societies 41 

The  Waters  of  vSan  Antonio  and  San  Pedro — 

The  Ditches  or  Acequias 41 

The   Pajalache  or    Concepcion    Ditch 43 

The  San  Pedro  Ditch 44 

The    Alamo    Idadre    Ditch 44 

The   Upper   Labor    Ditch    and     the    History  of  Its  Construction 4"i 

The    vSan    Antonio    River ">n 

The   Water    Works .  54 


vi  SAX   AXTOXIO   DK  P.ICXAR. 

Sail  Antonio  as  a  Ilcalih  Resort .58 

Some   Resources  of  Western   Texas (il 

List  of  Charters  and  Amendments i;-) 

I/st  of  ISIayors  of  llie  City  of  San  Anluiiio Ci; 

San   Antonio  dk  Bkxar,   hv  Sidnkv  I^anier — 

Anthony  Crozat,  171:.'.  Huchereau  St.  Dauis,  1714.  New  Philippines.  Spain's  Earliest 
Claims.  La  Salle,  1U85.  San  Antonio  de  Valero,  1715.  Franciscans  of  Queretaro. 
San  Antonio  de  Valero,  1722.  Spain's  Mission.  French  Claims.  Correspondence 
of  D'Alarconne  and  De  la  Harpc.  The  San  Antonio  Missions.  "Lastekas" — Texas. 
Indians.  Testimonio  de  nn  Parecer.  .Vpaches,  17;^2.  vSandoval  and  Franquis — 
j^reat  lawsuit.  "San  Antonio  de  Vejar."  Foundation  of  the  Church  of  the  Alamo, 
1744.  French  and  Spanish  Policies,  1762.  San  Saba  Mission,  17oS.  .Seculariza- 
tion of  the  Alamo  Mission,  1783.  Partition  of  Alamo  Mission  Lands, 
1793.  Closinjr  the  .\lamo  Records,  1793.  Americans,  1800.  Philip  Nolan. 
Lieutenant  Pike,  1807.  San  Antonio  Society  Prior  to  1810.  Troublous 
Times.  Colonel  Delgado.  Revolutions.  Magee  and  Gutierrez.  Colonel 
Kemper.  Colonel  James  Gaines.  Governor  Salcedo.  Battle.  Surrender  of  San 
Antonio  by  the  Royalists.  ISIassacre  of  Rovalists.  Don  Elisondo.  Another 
Battle.  Royalist  Loss.  Captain  Perry.  Don  Jose  Alvares  Toledo.  General 
Arredondo.  Another  Battle.  Royalists  Victorious  under  Arredondo,  1813.  A 
"Black  Hole  "of  San  Antonio.  San  Antonio  .Almost  Abandoned,  181G.  Moses 
Austin,  1820.  American  Colonists.  Treaty  of  Cordova,  1821.  Secession  from 
Spain.  French  Merchants  in  San  Antonio,  1824.  The  Bowie  Brothers,  1831. 
Shawnees  and  Comanches.  1832.  Sam  Houston,  1833.  Texas  and  Coahuila. 
Stephen  F.  .\ustin  and  Mexico,  1833.  Revolutionary  Meeting,  1834.  Ugartechea 
and  Cos.  vSanta  Anna.  Deaf  Smith.  Dr.  James  Grant.  Burle.son.  Maverick. 
San.\ntonio  Besieged  by  Texans,  1835.  :Milam  and  John.son.  San  Antonio  Taken. 
Karnes.  Surrender  of  the  Alamo  by  Cos.  Travis.  Crockett.  Arrival  of  Santa 
Anna,  1836.  Siege  of  the  Alamo.  Bonham  and  Fannin,  .\ccount  of  Rose.  Fall 
of  the  Alamo.  Mrs.  Dickinson  and  the  "Child  of  the  Alamo."  Indians,  1840. 
Captain  Howard.  War  between  Texas  and  :\rexico.  Raids  of  Vasqnez  and  Woll, 
1842.  Annexation,  1845.  Cosmopolitan  San  Antonio.  Meteorological.  (Teo- 
graphical.     San  Fernando.      Religious.     Points  of  Interest.     Conclusion.  .    .  68  to     91 

lNTI':kVIHW.S   AND    ]\lKM()IRS    OF   (^1,1)    Tnil-:   TlvXAN.S. 

Extracts  from  the  Memoirs  of   .Mrs.  M.  A.  ]\Iaverick 95  t,)  106 

Interview  with  Mrs.  Canterbury 107 

.\  Talk  with  Right  Reverend  BisliopNeraz 109 

Interviews  with    Dr.    Cnpples 112 

.A.n  Interview  with  Dr.  Ferdinand  Hcrff,  .Sr 115 

An  Interview  with  Mr.  John  Dol)])in IKi 

Senora   Candelaria 117 

Colonel  Ford's  Memoirs Hi) 

The  Alamo  Monument  at  .Austin 124 

The   County  Records 125 

The  P'ounding  of  the  Town  of  .San  I'ernando 126 

Historical,  interesting  and  statistical  dates  of,  and  relating  to,  the  Citv  of  San  .\t.tonio,    12!)  to  166 


ILLUSTRATIONS  AND  I'LAiXS. 


Church  of  the  Mission  del   Alamo .    .  I-roitlispiccc 

Mission  de   la  Concepcion   (First   jNIissioii") ■*< 

Mission  vSan  Jose  de  Aguayo  (Second  Mission) 1- 

Group  of  Views  of  Missions  and   Mission   lUii'dinij,s 1<> 

Plans  illustrating  the  Alamo.  Concepcion,  San  Jos^,  San  Juan  and  Espada   INIissions,  San 

Jose  Granary  and  the  Villa  Capital  de  San  Fernando,  with  References IH 

Group  of  Views  of  Portals  and  a  Window  of  San  Jose -<• 

Group  of  Detail  of  Mission  Carving --i 

Group  of  Views  of  J^Iilitary  Post -^ 

Federal  Building •"'- 

The  San  Antonio  National   Bank .' -!<' 

Group  of  Scenes  of  Mexican   Life  in  San  Antonio -14 

Group  of  River  Scenes  and  old  Mission  Aqueduct .....  ■'>«) 

vSpanish  and  Mexican-Texas  Seals ''-^ 

Facsimiles  of  Signatures   of  Historical  Personages •'^" 

Western  Texas  Cowboy  Sketches 1"4 

San   Antonio  City  Hall 1^^ 

Numerous  small  cuts    included  in  the  letter  press 

IMap  of  the  central  portion  of  the  City  (TSan  Antorio 


ERRATA. 


I.   :Mrs.  Hockett  has  changed    from   St.  Mary's  Street  to    the    Apartment    House,    comer    of 

Houston  and  Jefferson  Streets.     Page  o. 
'2.   For  "turning  south  at  Laurel  Street,"  read    "turning  west,  etc."    Bottom  of  Page  (i. 
o.   Since  the  first  sheets  of  this  work  were  printed  the  electric  rapid  transit  Street  Car  Lines 

have  been  extended  in  several  of  the  suburbs  of  the  city.     Page  6. 

4.  For  "Espado"  read  Espada,  on  illustration.     Page  20. 

o.  The  Magnetic  Needle  omitted  from  Alamo  Mission  Plan.     Note — the  Alamo  Church  fron'.s 

almost  due  west.     Page  24. 
fi.  The  Government  Post  has  been  recently  oflficially  named  Fort  Sam  Houston.   Page  2j. 
7.   Turner  Hall  has  been  converted  into  Rische's  Opera  Hou.se.     Page  84. 

5.  For  "weeky"  read  weekly.     Eleventh  line,  page  oo. 

i».  For  W.  A.  Little,  F;sq.,  read  C.  C.  Cresson,  Esq.,  last  line  '  San  AntonioClub."  Page  4(i. 
Kl.  The  Waterworks  proposition   was  rejected  by   a  large  majority  on   September  .■JOtli, 
1S9(».     Page  57. 

11.  F'or  "Prom"  read  From.     4th  line,  page  7-"). 

12.  For  "St.  Patrick's  Day  :"   read  without  the  colon.      Itith  line,  page  117. 
IS    F'or  "ainaluer"  read  amateur.     17th  line,  page  117. 

14.   American  Biographical  Dictionaries  differ  ns  to  the  year  of  General  R.   H.    Lee's   birth,    b>it 
the  best  authoritits  give  laniiarv  linh,  bS07  ;    not  ].SO(i,     Page  l;;l, 


Sail  Antonio  dc  Bexar. 


Introductory. — "  By  far  the  most  pleasant  as  well  as  interesting'  town  in 
Texas  is  San  Antonio."  So  writes  George  Wilkins  Kendall  in  1^1:;,  in  his 
"  Narrative  of  the  Texan  Santa  Fc  Expedition  "  of  the  good  city  of  old  P.exar. 
that  stood  for  a  generation  or  two,  bravely  up  in  the  seething  of  the  "  meeting  of 
the  waters, " — the  meeting  of  two  great  opposing  races  and  civilizations.  Over  the 
rolling  western  prairies  had  crept,  moving  eastwardly,  the  fringe  of  the  tide  of  the 
Spanish,— the  I.atin-Indian  civilization  from  Mexico,  meeting  after  awhile  here  a 
mightier  and  colder  current  pushing  westward— the  American,  the  ever  restless 
Anglo-Saxon  flood.  The  stronger  influence  overcame.  To-day,  San  Antonio  is  a 
flourishing,  enterprising,  American  city,  as  Texas  is  the  greatest  of  American 
States  and  one  destined  to  a  magnificent  future.  It  boasts  an  historical  past.  San 
Antonio  was  a  bone  of  contention,  Texas  was  the  meat  and  fat  for  the  victors,  and 
all  good  San  Antonians  believe,  with  some  show  of  reason,  that  the  nearer  the  bone 
the  sweeter  the  meat,  which  is  just  about  what  Kendall  means,  only  expressed 
rather  differently,  for  he  adds  later  to  this  praise  of  San  Antonio  the  following  : 
"  I  have  an  abiding  faith  in  Western  Texas,  and  will  stick  by  it  till  the  Guadalupe 
run.3  dry."  Such  love  had  old  Texans  it  seems  for  the  land  they  had  foaght  for 
and  won. 

Both  floods  still  remain,  but  now  commingle  harmoniously,  having  long  since 
ceased  to  maintain  an  unequal  contention.  Strange  traces,  however,  of  the  strug- 
gle are  everywhere  present  in  the  old  city,  in  spite  of  its  new  face  and  smile  of 
prosperity.  Its  quaint  traditions,  customs  and  reminiscences  are  quickly  recog- 
nized by  a  stranger's  en<iuiring  eye.  Alas  !  while  these,  the  old  houses,  here  and 
there,  and  the  Missions,  more  or  less  the  worse  for  age,  remain  to  us,  the  strong, 
grand  old  pioneer  faces  of  men  who  had  in  their  turn  taken  up  their  "  pistols  '' 
their  "  sharp-edged  axes,"  and  the 

"  Task  eternal,  and  llie  burden  and  the  lesson," 
are  getting  to  be  few  and  far  bLlweeii.  hut  their  work,  their  sons  and  their 
.sons'  sons  remain.  San  Antonians,  pure  and  simple,  and  Texans  mostly, 
walk  with  a  step  that  bespeaks  tradition  and  a  certain  pride  of  country,  of  a  jeal- 
ous remembrance  of  that  part  their  fathers  took  in  the  winning  of  the  brightest 
star  of  all  in  a  galaxy,  and  a  demeanour  which  tells  strangers  plainly  enough  if 
they  be  too  prompt  with  unwelcome  criticism  of  .some  of  their  seemingly  odd  old 
ways,  fashions  and  methods,—"  Sirs,  we  have  a  history,  find  it  out,  it  will  repay 
you  and  perhaps  you  may  discover  why  w^e  do  some  things  that  you  would  not  do 
and  leave  undone  some  things  that  you  w^ould  do."  And,  indeed  it  will  repay  the 
student  right  nobly.  It  is  a  stirring,  thrilling  history  almost  inexhau.stible  in 
interest. 


2  vSAN  ANTONIO  DI<:   BKXAR. 

'■  It  is 'however  thfe'nkfclern  town  which  has  to  be  dealt  with  just  now.  Its 
history,  chronicles  and  som'?  deeds  of  its  doughty  men  will  be  found  as  fully  set 
out  in  other  pages  as  space  will  allow.  But.  as  this  guide  is  compiled  as  much  for 
the  benefit  of  strangers  and  enquirers  as  for  home  folks,  it  is  as  well  that  a  few  of 
the  leading  facts  of  the  city's  origin  and  being  be  emphasized  in  this  introductory. 

San  Antonio  is  now  probably  the  most  cosmopolitan  spot  on  the  face  of  the 
globe.  Representatives  of  every  race  of  the  earth  have  been  counted  here,  except 
perhaps  the  aboriginal  Oceanicans.  The  larger  elements  of  the  existing  popu- 
lation are  American,  Mexican,  German,  Colored,  with  smaller  groups  of  French, 
Italian,  Polanders,  Irish  and  many  other  nationalities. 

San  Antonio  partakes  more  of  the  appearance  of  an  old  world  town  than  any 
in  the  Union — Boston  not  excepted.  Although  the  modern  business  blocks  and 
fine  residences,  with  all  their  adjuncts  in  the  way  of  the  conveniences  of  civiliza- 
tion so  largely  predominate,  yet  the  ancient  looking  house  here  and  there,  the 
crooked  streets  and  alleys,  the  plazas,  the  relics  of  an  older  and  altogether  diff"er- 
ent  dynasty — lend  the  city  a  venerable  air  that  is  particularly  pleasing  to  the 
visitor's  eye  so  used  to  straight,  wide  streets  and  compact  blocks  laid  out  in  the 
mathematical  precision  of  a  chess  board. 

The  peculiarities  of  the  city  will  be  better  understood  if  the  facts  hinted  at 
above  are  remembered.  To  comprehend  things  rightly  the  city's  history  and 
origin  must  be  constantly  borne  in  mind.  I,et  the  rule,  for  instance,  be  applied  in 
reference  to  the  venerable  Missions,  at  once  the  pride,  glory  and  regret  of  San 
Antonio. 

Let  a  traveller  from  the  East  or  North  be  set  down  before  the  gateway  of 
San  Jose.  In  his  journey ings  he  has  seen  nothing  like  this  before.  The  Mission 
must  be  to  him  an  enigma.  He  hears  that  it  is  a  century  and  a  half  since  its 
foundations  were  laid  by  Catholic  missionaries,  aided  by  their  converts,  half  or 
more  than  half  sav^age  Indians,  all  under  constant  peril  of  their  lives  from  the 
outside  from  the  cruelest  of  hostile  tribes,  that  were  uncompromising  in  their 
enmity.  If  he  is  practical,  the  traveller  will  wonder  whence  the  stone  came 
where  no  quarries  were — from  where  the  lime,  with  no  kilns — who  was  the 
architect,  the  superintendent  of  works,  the  artist  stone  cutter — the  engineer,  for 
he  may  be  told  that  this  old  Mission  was  once  fortified.  An  intelligent  man  is 
bound  to  ask  these  things,  and  if  he  merely  remembers  that  the  Mission  is  on  the 
outside  edge  of  his  own  territory  and  civilization  he  will  fail  to  understand  and 
realize  how  it  was  all  done;  he  is  even  in  the  dark  as  to  the  spirit  and  design  of 
its  founders,  much  less  comprehending  the  hard,  practical  fact  of  the  presence  of 
the.se  great  ma.sses  of  masonry  and  beautiful  .sculpture  in  a  lone,  wide,  wild 
l)rairie,  as  he  knows  the  spot  must  have  been  in  the  days  of  the  erection  of  these 
Missions. 

But,  suppose  that  the  traveller  had  come  from,  say,  the  City  of  Mexico — had 
a  smattering,  at  lea.st.  of  Spanish  and  Mexican  Hi.story,  knew  and  understood 
that  the  aggrandizement  of  vSpain's  Empire  was  the  object  alike  of  Church  and 
State — the  King  and  the  Church  going  hand  in  hand,  the  one  establi.shing  the 
other;  the  King  granting,  conceding,  and  sending  his  soldiers  to  protect,  the 
Church   .sending   its  well-trained   servants  to  work,  to  pro.selytize,   to  acquire,  to 


RAILROADS.  '.] 

bless.  Coining;  tliroui^h  Mexico,  the  protiression  from  one  j^reat  religious  louiKla- 
lion  to  another  would  .seem  natural,  as  he  travelled  northward  and  eastward,  and, 
keei)int;-  in  view  Spain's  necessity  to  firmly  estal)lish  her  l)orders,  the  Texas 
Missions  would  appear  at  last  perfectly  in  place  and  kcepini;  willi  a  definite  de- 
sign and  scheme.  The  puzzle  would  be  ab.sent,  but  the  admiration  fijr  indefatiga- 
ble workers  would  be  none  the  less.  The  Missions  would  be  the  ornament  on  the 
fringe  of  the  Spanish  and  not  the  Anglo-Saxon  skirt.  To  the  brothers — 
Franciscans — who  had  the  ac([uirements,  resources,  devotion  and  energy  to  plan, 
design  and  build  the  magnificent  churches  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  the  religious 
houses,  chapels,  bridges  and  aqueducts  scattered  o\-er  the  land,  the  foundation 
and  construction  of  the  San  Antonio  Missions,  wonderful  as  the  work  was,  does 
not  seem  to  be  a  very  difficult  task.  Perhaps  some  of  the  same  workers  who  built 
the  great  stone  aqueduct  at  Queretaro  about  the  year  17-'^>0  came  up  to  San 
Antonio  with  the  Queretaro  h'ranciscan  brothers  and  helped  in  the  completion 
of  the  beautiful  San  Jose. 

It  is  thus,  then,  that  he  nuist  be  in  touch  with  its  history  who  would  come 
to  correct  conclusions  about  the  grand  old  City  of  Bexar.  This  is  only  a  single 
instance  of  a  brighter  side — but  to  other  and  sterner  chapters  the  rule  applies 
with  a  like  reason. 

Not  to  delay  further  a  practical  description  of  San  Antonio  as  it  is — what 
there  is  to  see  and  how  to  .see  it — the  visitor  is  strongly  recommended,  before 
setting  out  on  the  rounds,  to  read  Sidney  Lanier's  historical  sketch.  It  will  be 
found  to  be  reliable,  and  is  the  best  short  history  of  the  city  that  has  been  written. 
It  is  from  the  pen  of  one  of  America's  most  charming  writers,  and  no  praise  of  it 
is  needed  here.  The  name  of  the  author  is  sufficient  to  ensure  its  being  read 
with  interest  and  attention. 

Railroads. — Three  main  lines  of  railroad  with  a  multitude  of  tributaries 
run  into  and  through  San  Antonio.  The  visitor  may  arrive  at  either  of  three 
different  depots. 

The  Southern  Pacii'ic  or  Sun.set,  as  it  is  familiarly  called,  has  its  depot 
in  the  northeastern  suburbs.  The  main  line  stretches  from  New  Orleans  to  be- 
yond San  Francisco.  Many  of  the  New  York  and  Ivastern  mails  come  in  over  this 
rotite,  it  having  quick  competing  connnunications  for  eastern  traffic  and  tra\'el. 
Its  principal  business  done  with  San  Antonio  is  from  Calilornia  on  the  west — 
from  New  Orleans,  Galveston  and  Houston,  etc.,  on  the  east.  It  was  the  first 
railroad  to  reach  this  city,  arriving  here  early  in  February,  1^77.  An  electric 
street  car  line — Belknap  system — car  labelled  Avenue  C.  Line,  etc..  color  green, 
nickel  fare,  does  service  for  this  depot  to  the  Alamo  Plaza  citywards  and  to  the 
Government  Hill  northwards.  Another  electric  car  line  al.so  does  service  here  to 
Avenue  E.  and  Alamo  Plaza  citywards  and  to  the  Alamo  Heights,  at  the  head  of 
the  river,  northward — fare,  nickel;  color,  yellow;  light,  purple.  The  South- 
ern Pacific  ticket  office  is  in  the  Adams  &  Wickes  l)uilding,  on  Alamo  Plaza. 

TiiK  IxTiCRXATioN.VL  AND  Grkat  Nortiikrn  depot  is  in  the  western  siib- 
tirbs  of  the  city.  This  line  gives  us  communication  with  all  parts  directly  north 
and  east,  via  Dallas,  Fort  Worth,  Austin,  etc.,  passing  through  our  city,  on  via 
Laredo,  to  the  City  of  Mexico,  to  which  city  it  is  at  present  one  of  the  shortest 


4  SAN  ANTONIO  I)K  BEXAR. 

routes.  It  also  brings  many  eastern  mails.  It  made  its  first  appearance  from  the 
north  in  this  city  February  IGth,  1881.  It  has  an  electric  city  street  car  service — 
Belknap  system — color,  orange;  labelled  City  Hall,  Plazas  and  all  Hotels.  The 
International  and  Great  Northern  ticket  office  is  on  the  corner  of  N.  Alamo  street 
and  Alamo  Plaza. 

The  San  A.ntonio  and  Aransas  Pass  RaiIvRoad  fiimiliarly  "S.  A.P." 
"  Our  Railroad,"  the  spoilt  child  of  San  Antonio,  is  an  enterprise  of  which  the  city 
may  well  be  proud.  Under  the  far-sighted  policy  of  its  able  president,  U. 
Lott,  who  has  a  strongly  developed  prophetic  instinct  in  him,  this  road  is 
destined  to  become  an  important  system.  At  present,  with  upwards  of  800 
miles  in  operation,  it  does  good  service,  firstly  with  Boerne  and  Kerrville 
on  the  north,  whence  it  is  pushing  a  northwestern  extension  ;  secondly  with 
Corpus  Christi  and  Rockport,  and  eventually  deep  water  at  Aransas,  and  the  short 
est  route  to  the  City  of  Mexico  on  the  south  ;  thirdly  with  all  that  fertile  grazing 
and  farming  country  lying  between  Kenedy  and  Houston,  doing  here  an  immense 
cotton  and  cattle  freighting  business  ;  fourthly  with  Houston  and  Galveston  east  ; 
fifthly  with  another  rich  mid-Texas  district  by  an  important  branch  to  Waco. 
Other  branches  are  under  construction  and  in  contemplation.  Mr.  Lott's  able 
lieutenant  is  General  Manager  B.  F.  Yoakum.  The  first  ground  was  broken  for 
this  railroad  in  this  city  May  18th,  1885.  It  is  identified  with  the  interests  of  San 
Antonio.  The  depot  is  in  the  southern  suburbs.  It  is  serv^ed  by  two  car  lines, 
the  red  car  coming  to  Alamo  Plaza  the  yellow  car  serving  through  South  Flores 
street  to  the  Military  Plaza  and  North  Flores  street.  The  ticket  office  is  in  the 
Kanipmann  building,  on  Main  street. 

Mallory  Line  of  Steamers. — -The  pleasantest  though  not  the  shortest 
route  to  New  York,  is  Ijy  rail  to  Galveston,  thence  by  one  of  the  Mallory 
steamers.     This  is  a  most  delightful  trip  especially  in  the  summer  time. 

Transfer. — Busses  and  transfer  wagons  meet  every  train  incoming  or  out- 
ward bound.  The  company  is  moderate  in  its  charges  for  baggage  or  pas.sengers, 
and  their  servants  are  as  a  rule  punctual  and  obliging. 

Hacks  and  Carriages. — One  of  the  peculiarities  of  San  Antonio  is  an 
innnense  hack  traffic.  It  is  a  favorite  mode  of  locomotion.  The  charges  are  not 
high  on  account  of  the  considerable  competition.  It  is  however  always  advisable 
to  have  a  perfect  understanding  with  your  Jehu  beforehand  as  to  his  ultimate 
charges,  or  in  nine  cases  out  often  upon  settlement  you  will  harbor  suspicions  of 
being  over-reached.  Many  of  the  hacks  are  costly  vehicles,  and  nearly  all  have 
good  stepping,  .strong  horses.  On  the  whole  it  does  well  to  fall  into  the  custom 
of  the  place  as  to  hacks.  There  are  always  plenty  of  them  at  train  times  at  the 
depots  and  the  stands  are  conveniently  placed  on  the  Plazas  and  Houston  street. 

Hotels.  -The  Menger  is  the  oldest  and  best  lioU'l  in  the  city.  It  is  con- 
spicuous on  the  eastern  corner  of  Alamo  Plaza,  not  far  from  the  Alamo  Church 
building.  The  Menger  was  established  in  1858,  being  opened  January  olst.  1851) 
It  has  been  constantly  adck-d  to  until  now  its  extensive  buildings  coxcr  the 
greater  part  of  the  block.  It  is  in  the  hands  of  its  proprietor,  Mr.  H.  D.  Kanip- 
mann, and  well  managed  by  Mr.  Browder.  Its  service  and  appointments  are 
first-class  in  every  particular.     The  facade  is  prettily  shaded  by  trees,  and   the 


prr.ijc  C()Mi<()RT.  /) 

court  yard  contains  one  ol"  the  prettiest  groups  of  banana  trees  in  Texas.  In  the 
season  musical  evenings  are  an  attraction  to  its  guests,  and  fashiona]>le  gernians 
are  periodically  held.  It  is  inipo.ssible  to  state  the  various  hotel  charges. 
It  is  ]K'rliaps  sufficient  to  say  that  the  charges  of  none  are  exorljitant. 
It  is  well  situated  as  to  street  car  ser\-ice,  nian\-  of  the  various  city 
lines  starting  and  terniinating  on  the  Alamo  Plaza,  viz  :  the  scarlet  line  car 
plying  between  this  plaza  down  Houston  street  to  San  Pedro  Avenue  and 
Springs — scarlet  light.  The  City  Hall  line  on  Main  and  Military  Plazas. 
I.  &  G.  N.  depot  and  all  hotels — color,  orange;  light,  orange.  The  Avenue 
C  line  to  Southern  Pacific  depot  and  Government  Post — color,  green;  light, 
green.  The  S.  Alamo,  Mill  street  and  S.  A.  &  A.  P.  R.  R.  depot— color, 
red;  light  red.  Green  cars  do  service  from  the  end  of  E.  Commerce.  A  hack 
stand  fronts  the  hotel. 

Another  good  hotel  is  the  Maverick,  on  Houston  street.  The  building  was 
originally  erected  for  Military  Headquarters,  and  was  used  for  this  purpose  trom 
January  "io,  'TS  till  1S82,  being  enlarged  and  opened  as  a  hotel  in  April  of  that 
year.  As  a  hotel  it  is  second  in  importance  only  to  the  Menger.  It  is  very  well 
served  by  the  proximity  of  all  the  important  street  car  services  of  the  city,  many 
of  the  lines  passing  its  doors. 

Still  other  good  hotels  are  the  Southern,  the  St.  Leonard,  the  Central,  all  on 
the  Main  Plaza,  and  the  Mahncke,  on  Houston  street. 

Boarding  and   Lodging-    Houses,   Flats.— San  Antonio  is  not 

quite  so  well  off  for  good  boarding  houses  as  it  might  be.  Probably  the  reason 
may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  it  enjoys  a  number  of  other  facilities  for  easy  and 
cheap  living.  Nevertheless,  a  number  of  really  good  boarding  houses  can  be 
reckoned.  Mrs.  Cole's  house,  on  Pecan  street,  enjoys  a  first  class  reputation  for 
the  excellent  table  that  is  kept  and  the  attention  paid  to  the  general  com- 
fort. Mrs.  Murphy's,  on  St.  Mary's  street,  is  noted  for  similar  good  qualities,  also 
Mrs.  Sappington's,  on  Tobin  Hill.  Mrs.  Hockett's,  on  St.  Mary's  street,  has  a 
well-estal)lished  reputation.  Of  counse  there  are  many  other  fairly  good  hou.ses, 
but  changes  so  constantly  come  that  the  list  mentioned  must  suffice.  A 
custom  that  very  well  suits  the  visitor  making  an  extended  stay  is  that  which 
many  of  the  inhabitants  have  of  letting  for  rent  by  the  month,  certain  rooms,  very 
often  the  best  in  their  houses.  Such  visitors  can  make  themselves  very  com 
fortable,  and  live  more  economically,  by  rooming  in  this  fashion  and  boarding 
vi^here  best  suits  their  appetites  and  convenience.  Of  course,  all  sorts  of  bargains 
can  be  made.  It  only  re([uires  a  little  searching  for  every  class  to  be  made 
perfectly  comfortable.  In  fine,  San  Antonio,  if  not  provided  specifically  with  a 
large  number  of  good  boarding  houses,  is  nevertheless  a  city  in  which  living  is 
made  easy,  not  to  say  delightful.  Mention  nmst  here  be  made  of  two  excellent 
imstitutions,  the  Webb  hou.se,  on  Houston  street — liplf  boarding  house,  half  hotel 
— spoken  of  highly  as  a  place  of  comfort,  and  the  Alamo  Flats,  on  Alamo  Plaza,  a 
most  convenient  arrangement  of  rooms  and  suites  of  rooms,  nicel>-  furnished  and 
excellently  well  conducted  under  its  present  management. 

Restaurants. — Good  ones  are  Harnisch  &  Baer's,  on  Alamo  Plaza;  the 
Elite,  at  the  corner  of  Soledad  .street  and  Main  Plaza:  and  Lang's  Dining  Room, 
on  Commerce  street. 


6  SAN  AXTOXIO  DE  BEXAR. 

Street  Car  Lines  and  Street  Railways. 

The  Belknap  System  of  Lines  comes  first.  For  years — since  1878 
almost  up  to  the  present  time — this  system  was  the  only  one  which  San  Antonio 
had.  It  was  inaugurated  by  the  late  Col.  Augustus  Belknap,  formerly  such  a 
popular  and  genial  figure  in  our  communit3\  It  is  now  under  the  management 
of  the  able  president  of  the  company,  Mr.  W.  H.  Weiss.  We  have  other  systems 
and  lines,  and  still  others  are  projected.  This  system  serves  about  all  parts  of 
the  city,  and  all  its  lines,  except  the  Flores  street  line,  focus  on  the  Alamo  Plaza. 
Taking,  therefore,  the  Alamo  Plaza  as  a  starting  point,  we  will  describe  this 
system,  mentioning  principal  streets,  in  progress  and  the  termini. 

The  Scarlet  Lake  Cars,  named  San  Pedro  line,  take  Houston  street,  turning 
north  to  Acequia  street  to  San  Pedro  avenue  and  San  Pedro  Springs,  turning  east 
awhile  down  Locust  street,  then  north  again  through  Crockett  Place  and  encom- 
pa.ssing  Laurel  Heights,  back  to  and  terminating  on  San  Pedro  avenue,  far  above 
the  Springs.     Night  light,  red;  fare,  a  nickel.     Electric  line. 

The  Green  Cars,  named  Avenue  C  line,  take  Houston  street,  shortly  turning 
north  on  Avenue  C  to  the  Southern  Pacific  depot,  following  Austin  street  to 
Carson  street  to  Grayson  street  to  Government  Post,  terminating  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  New  Post.     Night  light,  green;  fare,  a  nickel.     Electric  line. 

The  Orange  Cars,  named  City  Hall  line,  take  Houston  street.  Sole- 
dad  street  south,  across  Main  Plaza  to  Military  Plaza,  Dolorosa  street.  West 
Commerce  .street  to  the  I.  &  G.  N.  depot,  where  it  terminates.  Night  light, 
orange;  fare,  a  nickel.     Electric  line. 

The  Dull  Red  Cars,  named  S.  A.  &  A.  P.  R.  R.  line,  takes  Alamo  street 
.south  to  Mill  street  to  the  S.  A.  &  A.  P.  R.  R.  depot.  Night  light,  red;  fare,  a 
nickel. 

The  white  cars,  named  Cemetery  line,  take  East  Commerce  street  to  ceme- 
teries.     Fare,  a  nickel;  color,  yellow  and  green. 

The  Yellow  Cars  plying  between  vSan  Pedro  Springs  to  North  Flores  street,  to 
Military  Plaza,  to  South  Flores  .street  and  Arsenal,  to  S.  A.  &  A.  P.  R.  R.  depot 
terminating  on  South  Flores  .street  .south  of  that  depot.  Night  light,  purple  ;  fare, 
nickel. 

The  McCrillis,  or  Alamo  Electric  Street  R.  R.  System,  is  next  in  impor- 
tance. Going  south  from  the  heart  of  the  city  it  crosses  Houston  and  Commerce 
streets  on  Navarro  street,  cro.sses  the  Mill  bridge  down  Garden  street,  turning 
on  Mill  street  to  Presa  street,  going  far  down  that  street,  terminating  at  the 
P'air  and   J'<x])osition  grounds  and  Riverside  Park.      Fare,  nickel. 

The  McCrillis  System  also  starts  from  the  Alamo  Plaza  out  Avenue  E.  a 
short  distance  to  Third  street,  making  a  turn  down  that  street  crossing  Avenue 
C,  then  into  Martin  street,  making  a  junction  on  that  .street  with  its  main  line, 
then  cro.ssing  the  river  over  the  bridge  by  the  Convent  on  to  Richmond  Avenue, 
Madison  Square,  to  Main  Avenue,  to  Howard  Street  and  Crockett  S<iuare,  turning 
.south  at  Laurel  street  across  the  San  Pedro  creek  to  the  Frederick.sburg  road  to  Key- 


STRlUvT  CARS  AND   I'l.ACI'S  ()1<    I  NTICKI'ST.  7 

stone  Park.     Another   line  of  tlie  same  system  starts   from    Alamo  Pla/.a  east  on 
Crockett  Street  to  the  Cemeteries.      Fare,  nickel. 

The  West  End  System,  built  principally  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
West  J{n(l  Town  Company's  pas.senger  traffic,  is  a  good  line  of  Thompson-Houston 
Electric  System.  Starting  from  the  corner  of  Houston  and  Acecpxia  streets  it  goes 
west  out  Houston  street,  skirting  the  western  limits,  to  the  West  End  Lake,  where 
it  terminates.  Styled  "Houston  Street  and  West  End."  Color,  blue;  night  light, 
blue;  fare,  nickel. 

The  Alamo  Heights  System.  This  line,  starting  from  the  Alamo  Plaza 
out  Avenue  E.  into  Austin  street,  past  the  Southern  Pacific  R.  R.  depot  into 
River  Avenue  past  the  head  of  the  river,  encompa.ssing  that  property  to  the  Alamo 
Heights,  a  new  and  important  addition  to  the  improved  suburbs  of  the  city. 
Color,  yellow;    night  light,  purple;    fare,  nickel. 

There  is  a  short  car  line  from  the  I.  iS:  G.  X.  depot  to  the  summit  of  Prospect 
Hill.  Also  one  called  the  Cross  Town  R.  R.,  little  used,  from  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad  to  the  bottom  of  vSan  Pedro  Avenue. 

What  There  is  to  See  and  How  to  See  It. 

The  visitor  once  housed  to  his  satisfaction  in  the  city,  so  much  around  him 
is  so  interesting  and  so  different  to  what  he  has  hitherto  seen,  that  he  is  sure  to 
be  early  asking  questions  and  enquiring  generally  as  to  the  lions  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, what  there  is  to  see  and  how  best  to  see  it.  Here  is  a  list  and  following 
a  more  extended  description  with  mention  of  the  attractions  of  San  Antonio  and 
Western  Texas. 

The  Alamo  of  course  leads  the  list,  that  is  a  shrine  before  which  every  pil- 
grim to  San  Antonio  bows.  The  First  and  Second  Missions  should  not  be  missed, 
and  the  Third  with  its  substantial  old  Aqueduct,  and  the  Fourth  with  its  more  per- 
fect fortifications,  if  time  will  allow,  should  be  visited.  All  four  Missions  have 
different  points  of  interest  and  will  repay  a  thousand  times  in  pleasure  any  diffi- 
culty in  getting  to  them.  The  San  Fernando  Cathedral,  the  exten.sive  Irrigation 
Ditches,  are  worthy  of  note.  The  Plazas,  the  curious  custom  of  the  all-night  out- 
door Supper  on  the  Plazas.  The  stranger  .should  certainly  take  a  Mexican  supper. 
The  Mexican  quarter  and  its  denizens,  trans-San  Pedro  creek,  should  be  done. 
Riverside  Park  and  Exposition  Grounds,  the  San  Pedro  Springs,  the  Head  of  the 
River,  a  peep  at  the  Hor.se  and  Stock  Yards,  two  or  three  fine  Public  Buildings,  and 
last  but  not  least  the  Government  Military  Post  and  Depot,  with  its  extensive 
grounds  and  works,  drills,  parades,  music  and  barracks.  This  Post  is  probably 
the  most  important  in  every  respect  of  any  in  the  United  States. 


8  vSAN   ANTONIO   DE   Ill-.NAR. 

The  Alamo  Church  as  it  is  in  1890.* 

Tile  foundation  stone  of  the  Church  was  kiid  on  May  Sth,  1714.  A  stone  in 
the  carved  front  bears  a  date  of  ITo"  ;  it  is  uncertain  what  this  date  means  ;  it 
may  be  the  date  of  the  Church's  dedication.  Giraud  shows  (Yoakum's  History, 
App.  IV.)  that  the  Mission  was  founded  in  17()-"),  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  after 
being  twice  removed  to  different  sites  it  was  finally  brought  to  San  Antonio  by 
order  of  the  Viceroy  of  New  Spain,  the  Marquis  of  Valero,  May  1st,  1718.  A 
printed  copy  obtained  from  Rev.  Father  Bouchu,  Padre  at  the  Mission  Espada, 
of  "  Informe  Oficial  del  Conde  Revilla-gigedo,  Virey  de  Mejico  al  Rey  de 
Espaiia,  1798,"  concerning  the  Missions  of  Texas,  relates  that  the  '"ereccion"  of 
this  Mission  dated  17  H>.  The  Mission  was  secularized  with  the  others  by  decree 
of  Don  Pedro  de  Nava,  April  10th,  17'.>4.  The  famous  siege  began  February  22d, 
183G.     The  "  Fall  of  the  Alamo"  occurred  March  Gth,  IS^O. 

A  visitor  to-day  at  "  The  Alamo,"  will  be  met  at  its  entrance  by  the  worthy 
janitor,  Capt.  Tom  Rife,  a  Texan  of  pioneer  days.  He  guards  the  building  with 
a  jealous  care  it  is  indeed  a  pleasure  to  note  in  these  days  of  the  irrepressible 
relic  hunter  and  wall  scribbler.  The  visitor  will  be  given  in  short  the  particulars 
of  the  foundation  of  the  Mission  and  the  church.  A  description  will  be  given  him 
of  the  desperate  stand  to  the  last  man  of  Travis,  Bowie  (the  inventor  of  the  cele- 
brated bowie  knife),  "Davy"  Crockett,  Bonham,  and  their  companions,  in  de- 
fense of  their  countrymen's  liberties  and  the  independence  of  Texas.  One  hun- 
dred and  seventy  or  more  men,  with  sublime  recklessness,  decided  that  they  would 
never  surrender  or  retreat.  Death  to  each  was  the  cost  of  this  magnificent  temer- 
ity. He  will  be  shown  the  arch  pillars  upon  either  side,  evidences  of  a  massive 
arched  roof  and  dome,  the  remains  of  the  towers,  with  the  vaulted  ceilings  to  the 
ground  floor  cells,  the  connection  of  the  place  with  the  convent  from  the  choir, 
the  cruciform  of  the  Church,  the  site  of  the  dome,  the  room  used  as  a  powder 
magazine  during  the  siege,  which  is  interesting  for  its  massive  walls  and  strong, 
vaulted  stone  roof  or  ceiling,  and  for  the  fact  that  it  was  here  that  Evans  was 
shot  in  a  last  vain  endeavor  to  set  fire  to  the  residue  of  the  ammunition  and  that 
in  all  probability  it  was  here  that  Bowie  was  bayoneted  on  his  sick  bed  too  ill  of 
typhoid  fever  to  do  anything  but  set  a  high  example  of  admirable  fortitude  and 
courage.  The  present  roof  some  of  the  upper  windows  and  floorings  and  other 
improvements,  the  visitor  will  be  reminded  are  modern.  The  captain  will  be 
found  ever  ready  to  answer  the  ({uestions  that  naturally  arise  to  those  not  too 
familiar  with  the  Alamo's  eventful  history. 

Some  Further  Notes  on  the  Alamo. 

Anil  lluir  (laff  flonlcd  out  on  tlie  breeze 

Like  tremulous  haiuls  stretched  fortli  to  Mess." 

The  l)uil(liiig  now  commonly  known  as  the  Alamo,  and  which  is  really  the 
Church  of  the  Mission  of  the  Alamo,  or  of  San  Antonio  de  Valero,  is  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Alamo  Pla/.a,  its  carved   front  faces  west  ;  it  stands  at  a  point  a  little 

*  "Alamo  "  is  the  S])atiish  name  for  the  eotlonwood  tree,  a  species  of  po]>lar  quite  common  upon  the  hanks 
of  Texas  rivers  and  creeks  ;  its  limber  is  in  deninn<i  for  the  beauty  of  its  texture  :  on  account  of  the  height  of  its 
close  foIiaKc  it  makes  a  favorite  roostiiijj  place  for  wild  turkeys.  The  Alamo  seems  to  have  been  built  in  a  gfrove 
of  thes    trees. 


THE  ALAMO.  i> 

north  of  midway  on  the  east  side  of  this  Plaza,  as  at  present  constituted.  As  will 
be  .seen  on  reference  to  the  plan  of  the  Mission  as  it  originally  was,  both  the 
Alamo  Church  and  the  Convent  yard  were  outside  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
ancient  enclosure  known  as  the  "Square  of  the  Mission."  This  enclosure  ex- 
tended its  northwest  corner  down  Avenue  D  one  hundred  feet  or  more,  embracing 
with  the  north-west  vi^alls  a  good  portion  of  the  actual  building  site  of  the  new 
federal  building.  Its  western  boundary  was  almost  exactly  along  the  sidewalk 
past  the  Ma\-erick  homestead  across  Houston  street  past  the  Maverick  Bank  and 
the  row  of  buildings  following  on  the  west  side  of  Alamo  Plaza.  The  boundary 
all  along  here,  as  is  most  frequently  the  case  with  these  Missions,  consisted  of 
dwellings  and  barracks  for  the  use  of  those  connected  with  or  dependants  of  the 
old  Missions.  Two  irrigation  ditches  or  acequias,  both  of  them  abandoned  many 
years  ago.  ran  upon  each  side  of  this  row  of  dwellings,  one  a  branch  of  a  branch 
and  the  other  a  branch  called  the  Acequia  del  Alamo  of  the  Villita  ditch,  now 
running  under  the  eastern  wall  of  the  Church  through  the  Menger  hotel  on  to  "La 
Villita,"  which  ditch,  by  the  way,  is  it.self  a  branch  of  a  main  acequia  (Acequia 
Madre  del  Alamo)  which  passes  farther  east  from  the  head  of  the  river  and  on  to 
Water  street.  All  these  ditches  were  u.sed  not  only  for  irrigating  the  lands  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  and  belonging  to  the  Missions,  but  provided  water  for  the 
domestic  uses  of  the  Padres  and  their  numerous  dependants  and  coadjutors. 
Similar  dwellings  and  buildings  to  those  mentioned  formed  the  northeastern 
corner  of  the  square.  The  southern  boundary  was  more  prominent  on  account  of 
the  strongly  built  entrance  and  sally-port  of  the  square  being  there.  The  build- 
ing each  side  of  the  entrance  were  most  commonly  used  as  a  prison  and  strong- 
hold ;  further  mention  of  this  building  will  appear  later.  Hardly  a  vestige  o^ 
these  enclosing  walls  of  the  Mission  Square  could  be  found  to-day.  The  eastern 
wall  or  boundary  was  also  conspicuous  for  the  Convent  buildings  which  it  in- 
cluded, and  upon  these  Convent  foundations  Honore  Grenet,  in  the  year  LS7.S, 
built  for  a  grocery  warehouse  the  inartistic  erection  now  occupied  by  the  firm  of 
Hugo  &  Schmeltzer.  This  property  has  been  condemned  by  the  cit}'  (1889)  so 
that  these  remnants,  too,  will  in  all  probability  soon  disappear  before  the  mandates 
of  improvement  committees;  when,  all  that  will  be  left  of  this  once  prominent  and 
always  most  famous  of  the  Texas  Missions  will  be  those  walls  in  the  form  of  a 
cross,  which  with  "  ears  to  hear,"  caught  to  themselves  the  secrets  of  the  closing 
scenes  of  a  sublime  tragedy.  They  alone  know  the  last  personal  results  of  a 
unanimous  resolve  of  desperate  but  calmly  deliberate  heroism.  Old,  battered, 
time-worn,  silent  walls,  no  word  of  any  single  hero's  prowess,  or  separate  and 
supreme  feats  do  your  portals  tell.  They  are  carved  with  emblems  and  signs  of 
quite  another  story.  Those  deeds  are  your  secret.  Nevertheless,  echoed  from 
you,  shall  be  heard  the  whispers  adown  the  farthest  "corridor  of  time"  of  a  mag- 
nificent story  of  reckless  and  innnovable  self-sacrifice. 

East  of  the  Convent  building,  projected  from  its  walls  the  Convent  yard,  a 
rectangular  enclosure,  about  100  feet  square,  surrounded  by  strong  walls,  it  touched 
and  joined  with  its  southeast  corner  the  wall  of  the  near  corner  of  the  north 
wing  of  the  cross  formed  by  the  walls  of  the  Mission  Church.  The  Convent 
building  was  1*.)1  feet  long,  running  to  the  .south  line  of  East  Hou.ston  street,  so 
no  doubt   on  the  north  side  of  the  Convent  yard   was  another  enclosure  proba- 


10  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

bly  fenced  with  a  wall,  but  not  of  the  importance  of  the  main  Convent  vard.  The 
Convent,  the  Convent  yard,  the  prison  building  already  mentioned,  and  which 
was  existing  till  isiid,  'when  a  sionu  l)le\v  the  roof  off)  or  later,  the  space  imme- 
diately in  front  of  the  Alamo  Church  which  was  protected  by  a  temporary 
battery  stockade  of  cedar  posts  and  earthworks  stretching  from  the  prison  build- 
ing to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Church,  and  lastly,  the  Church  itself,  were  the 
chief  scenes  of  the  siege  of  February  and  March,  IS.W).  In  the  Church  the  last 
desperate  stand  ot  the  remnant  of  the  defenders  was  made.  These  portions  of 
the  Mission  were  those  that  in  these  later  troubles  were  commonly  understood  to 
constitute  the  fortress  of  the  Alamo.  While  some  of  the  dwellings  might  have 
been  used  and  undoubtedly  were  used  as  barracks  by  larger  forces,  it  could  not 
have  been  but  impossible  for  a  handful  of  men  (less  than  180)  to  have  manned 
the  whole  extensive  original  walls  of  the  Mission  square.  Indeed,  tradition  says 
that  much  of  the  western  and  northern  boundaries  of  the  large  Mission  square 
had  been  destroyed  in  1885,  before  the  siege,  and  that  even  the  prison  portion 
was  abandoned  quite  early  in  the  siege,  though  still  covered  by  unerring  marks- 
men with  the  long  rifles  which  the  Texans  knew  so  well  how  to  handle.  Before, 
General  Cos  did  much  to  damage  the  place  as  a  tenable  fortress  and  during  and 
after  the  siege,  the  walls  were  dismantled.  Piecemeal,  "  here  a  little  and  there  a 
little,"  the  old  Mission  has  been  improved  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  Very  for- 
lorn and  dilapidated  must  it  have  appeared  when  it  left  the  hands  of  Santa  Anna 
and  his  myrmidons  in  the  spring  of  1836.  "  The  Alamo,"  says  Kendall,  writing 
of  1S41  "  is  now  in  ruins,  only  two  or  three  of  the  houses  being  inhabited." 
For  thirteen  or  fourteen  years  after  "the  fall,"  the  place  remained  in  a 
state  of  almost  absolute  ruin.  For  much  less  than  a  century  had  this 
church  stood  in  the  beauty  of  completeness.  There  are  strong  evidences 
that  the  Alamo  Church  in  original  general  design  resembled  the  Church 
of  the  Mission  Concepcion,  that  is  to  say,  it  had  a  carved  front,  on  either  side  of 
which  was  a  tower  with  baptismal  or  vestry  rooms  at  their  bases,  with  belfries  in 
their  second  stories.  Both  Churches  were  built  in  the  form  of  the  cross  and  had 
similar  arches  and  arched  stone  roofs.  The  Alamo  Church,  probabl}-  like  the 
Mission  Concepcion  Church;  had  a  dome  at  the  intersection  of  the  cross  arches. 
Here,  perhaps,  the  resemblance  between  the  two  Churches  ceased  Now,  long 
before  the  siege,  tradition  says,  the  towers  had  disappeared,  the  roof  and  dome  had 
mostly  fallen  in,  ])ut  what  was  left  of  the  walls  stood  bravely  up.  These  thick, 
strong  walls,  the  Convent  with  its  yard  and  •  the  carcel  or  pri.son  entrance  were 
recognized  by  the  many  military  leaders  of  the  various  factions  and  armies  in  the 
struggles  and  troublous  times  of  the  early  part  of  the  present  century  as  about 
the  safest  harbor  of  refuge  the  neighborhood  afforded,  as  at  times  others  of  the 
Missions  were  considered  good  frontier  fortresses. 

About  the  year  1849,  Major  E.  B,  Babbitt,  acting  Quartermaster  of  the 
Eighth  Military  Department,  and  father  of  the  pre.sent  popular  commander  of  the 
Arsenal,  Major  Lawrence  S.  Babbitt,  took  pos.session  of  the  Alamo  buildings  in 
the  name  of  the  U.  S.  Government  to  use  them  as  a  yuartermaster's  Depot. 
The  ownership  of  the  Alamo  was  disputed  at  this  time,  the  city  claiming  it  on 
the  one  side,  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  ujion  the  oilier.  The  city  claimed 
from  Major  Iv.   P,.  lialibitt,  on   January  .'Id,   1S.")(),  rents  due    for  the   occuiiation  of 


THI-:  ALAMO.  1  I 

the  '■  bviilclings  and  proi)i.rtv  known  as  tlic  Alamo."  In  a  .snbse(inent  snit  which 
the  cit}-  lost,  Bishop  Odin,  on  behalf  of  his  Chnrch.  proved  her  title  to  the 
property. 

Major  Babbitt,  as  has  been  said,  found  the  whole  place  in  appearance  an  ab- 
solute ruin.  The  Church  buildino;  was  choked  with  debris,  a  conglomeration  of 
stones,  mortar  and  dirt  foiming  on  the  inside  a  slanting  heap  from  the  base  of  the 
rear  wall  to  the  top  of  the  front  "  so  that  a  person  could  run  up  and  look  over  the 
top  of  the  front."  Much  work  was  necessary  to  put  the  place  into  anything  like 
the  shape  necessary  for  offices  and  depot  houses,  and  sheds.  The  Major  set  to 
work  to  do  this.  The  Church  was  first  cleared,  and  deep  down  in  the  debris  were 
found  two  or  three  skeletons  that  had  evidently  been  hastily  covered  with  rub- 
bish after  the  fall,  for  with  them  were  found  fur  caps  and  buckskin  trappings, 
undoubted  relics  of  the  ever  memorable  last  stand.  In  a  later  year,  March  29, 
1878,  other  skeletons  buried  at  an  earlier  and  apparently  more  peaceful  period, 
were  unearthed  in  the  Church,  and  a  beautifully  carved  baptismal  font  was 
brought  to  light,  November  lo,  1.S78.  What  varied  scenes  in  the  life  of  man  it 
had  witnessed  I  One  would  be  tempted  to  moralize  writing  for  anything  else 
but  the  pages  of  a  bald  historical  guide.  The  next  work  done  was  the  repairing 
of  the  front.  To  restore  the  upper  part  of  it  to  its  original  form  was  impracticable. 
Bare  practical  utility  is  the  desired  feature  of  any  Government  Military  work. 
So  the  top  was  finished  off  in  its  present  modest  shape,  the  rest  of  the  walls  were 
raised  to  an  equal  height,  a  roof  was  added,  and  to  assist  in  bearing  up  this  roof, 
two  stone  pillars  were  built  inside  at  points  in  the  wings  of  the  cross  in  line  with 
the  arch  pillars.  A  second  floor  was  added,  and  in  the  southwest  tower,  once  a 
belfry,  an  office  was  made.  Other  offices  were  added  on  the  ground  floor.  xA 
few  troops  were  at  first  quartered  in  the  Church,  the  Convent  and  yard  were  also 
fitted  up  for  storerooms,  stables  and  sheds.  The  carcel  was  also  roofed  and 
cleared,  and  a  .serviceable  granary  was  made  of  it  and  used  as  such  by  the  Quar- 
termasters for  many  years.  It  was  demolished  soon  after  the  war,  the  wind  be- 
ginning this  work  of  destruction  in  186().  This  old  prison  building  used  to  stand 
east  and  west  across  the  north  end  of  the  garden  of  the  Alamo  Plaza  and  its 
foundations  were  brought  to  light  in  INS'.I,  when  the  leveling  of  the  Plaza,  prepar- 
atory to  laying  mesquite  blocks,  began.  The  buildings  as  restored  by  Major 
Babbitt,  were  used  as  a  Quartermaster's  Depot  bj'  the  United  States  troops 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  the  Confederate  authorities  u.sed  it  for  a 
similar  purpo.se.  After  the  war  it  was  again  used  by  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment until  the  new  Quartermaster  Depot  was  read}'  on  Government  Hill,  on 
January  ."51 ,  1S7N. 

In  1877  Grenet  purchased  the  Convent  portion  of  the  Alamo  property,  and 
shortly  (October  5,  1878)  erected  the  atrocious  lumber  building  before  noticed. 
Objection  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  Church  authorities  to  using  the  Alamo 
Church  building  as  a  mercantile  storeroom,  yet  it  undoubtedly  was  used  for  this 
at  times.  Early  in  1883  the  State  began  negotiations  for  the  purchase  of  the  old 
Church,  and  under  Act  of  April  "23,  1883,  this  was  done,  and  on  Ma}'  Ki,  the 
final  transfer  to  the  State  for  820,000  was  made.  This  was  the  right  and  proper 
thing  to  do,  and  it  was  but  a  slight  recognition  of  the  valor  of  the  men  to  whom 


12  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

Texas  owes  so  much,  not  to  mention  the  man}'  other  historical  associations  that 
its  walls  embody.  Man)-  particulars  and  details  of  the  foundation  and  earlier 
history  of  this  Church  and  the  Mission  will  he  found  in  Sidney  Lanier's  histori- 
cal sketch.  These  notes  are  intended  in  part  to  supplement  and  fit  into  his  ex- 
cellent description. 

The  Cathedral  of  San  Fernando- 

This  structure,  once  merely  a  Parish  Church,  now  a  Cathedral  (the  first  Bishop 
of  San  Antonio  was  installed  here  Christmas  eve,  1S74),  is  a  mixture  of  the  old 
and  new  regimes.  All  that  is  left  of  the  old  building  is  the  rear  part,  easily  dis- 
tinguished by  its  marked  Moorish  characteristics,  its  dome  and  massive  walls  and 
octagonal  design.  The  first  Parish  Church  seems  to  have  been  built  by 
sub.scription  and  the  ' '  subject  of  the  construction  was  first  considered  in  the  Royal 
Presidio  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  February  17th,  1788.*  Don  Prudencio  de 
Orobio  Basterra  being  Governor  and  Captain-General  of  the  Spanish  State  of 
Texas,  and  Don  Juan  Rezio  de  Leon  being  Curate,  Vicar  and  Ecclesiastical  Ju.stice 
of  the  town  of  San  Fernando  (without  the  Presidio  of  San  Antonio),  and  it  was 
resolved  that  this  Parish  Church  should  be  erected  under  the  invocation  of  the 
Virgin  and  our  Lady  of  Guadalupe."  Many  Spanish  names  which  appear  in  the 
original  list  of  contributors  are  names  well  known  in  the  present  day,  held  by 
descendants.  This  old  Church  stood  upon  much  the  same  ground  as  the  modern 
structure  does,  that  is,  midway  between  the  two  Plazas,  the  Main  and  the  Mili- 
tary. It  bore,  however,  a  nearer  relation  to  the  Military  Plaza  and  its  habitants 
than  to  the  other,  for  it  was  here  mostly  that  Spain's  soldier-guardians  of  her 
border  colonies  dwelt,  and  it  was  for  their  use.  more  especially,  that  the  Church 
was  designed. t 

The  corner  stone  of  the  new  structure  was  laid  on  vSeptenil)er  •27th,  ISOS. 
The  old  main  dome  was  destroyed  April  29th,  1S72,  and  the  new  walls  went  up 
outside  the  old,  so  that  the  Church  was  only  for  a  short  time  in  disuse.  July  -"kl, 
1873,  the  old  front  was  torn  down.  F.  Giraud,  who  was  Mayor  of  San  Antonio 
at  the  opening,  October  6th,  1873,  had  furnished  the  architect's  plans  and  speci- 
fications. It  was  the  intention  of  the  architect  to  lia\e  two  similar  towers,  yet 
only  one  was  partially  completed.  These  tow^ers  were  to  have  additional  struc- 
tures of  wood  surmounting  the  masonry,  twenty-five  feet  above  the  summit  of  the 
tower  now  erected.  In  this  tower  are  several  bells  that  chime  out  morning,  noon 
and  evening,  telling  to  all  the  city  the  time  of  day.  Daily  services  are  held, 
the  vSunday  morning  congregation  is,  as  a  rule,  large,  and  then  the  mu.sic  is  good 
and  well  worth  hearing.  The  Church  is  open  all  day  and  under  the  care  of  a 
sacristan.  There  is  an  old  and  interesting  font  and  several  large  pictures  and 
other  notalile  decorations.  The  present  Bishop  is  San  Antonio's  second — the 
Right  Reverend  J.  C.  Neraz. 

AiiolliL-r  autliorilv  says  llial  Uk-  fouiutation  sloiic  of  tliis  old  Church  was  laid  May  i^nIIi,  i;;,,). 

— (.V,///  Antonio  llfrohi.  July  nUi.  iS72)- 

t  There  was  formerly  mention  existing  in  the  church  records  of  a  still  older  church  buildiuj?  on  a  different 
site,  at  about  No.  500  North  Laredo  street  ;  all  traces  of  this  foundation  have  entirely  disappeared.  It  was  the 
oriy^in  of  the  old  San  I'crnando  Parish  Church,  and  in  a  measure  the  huildin>;  of  the  latter  was  probably  a  re- 
moval mcrclv  Troin  the  I, arcilo  street  site. 


S»-"H4 


Tin-:  MISSIONS.  13 

The  Missions. 

"  Good  friend,  for  Jesus'  sake  forbear, 
Blest  be  the  man  that  spares  these  stones." 

A  protest  must  be  recorded  here  against  the  wanton  mutilation  of  the  sculp- 
ture of  the  Missions  by  thoughtless  relic  hunters.  The  shameful  chipping  of  the 
beautiful  carving  has  been  going  on  for  years.  At  San  Jose  whole  figures  have  been 
stolen  and  others  made  headless  ;  the  fine  old  carved  cedar  paneled  doors  of  this 
Mission  were  entirely  wrecked  and  carried  away  piecemeal.  Can  any  good  use 
warrant  such  senseless  robber}-  ?  Good  friend,  forbear  !  forbear  even  to  add  your 
name  to  the  thousands  scratched,  scribbled  and  penciled  on  walls  not  meant  for 
such  a  purpose. 

How  to  Get  to  the  Missions. 

How  can  I  get  to  see  the  Missions  ?  is  the  anxious  in(iuiry  of  almost  every 
traveling  sightseer  that  comes  to  San  xAntonio. 

The  idea  that  if  one  is  seen  all  are  seen  is  erroneous. 

Each  M'ssion  has  its  distinctive  fea'iures,  and  all  are  well  worth  a  visit. 
Time,  of  course,  is  of  great  consideration  to  most  people,  and  they  would  rather 
see  one  than  none,  which  is  reasonable  enough,  but  if  the  time  can  possibly  be 
spared  none  of  the  four  Missions  should  be  missed.  There  is  nothing  of  the  kind 
of  equal  interest  on  this  continent.  It  is  an  experience  of  a  lifetime,  especially 
so  to  him  who  is  engaged  in  the  rush  and  torrent  of  business  life.  Let  him  then 
sacrifice  a  little  to  this  ol)ject  and  he  may  be  sure  that,  far  from  regretting  the 
time,  it  will  be  a  memory  to  be  long  cherished.  It  is  a  simple  matter  to  get  to 
the  Missions,  except  after  a  heavy  rain,  and  then  the  muddy  roads,  as  every  where 
else  m  the  world,  are  a  little  uni)leasant.  The  v.-ay  for  a  .stranger  to  go,  to 
thoroughly  enjoy  the  time,  is  to  hire  a  buggy,  or.  if  a  small  party  is  made  up,  a 
larger  conveyance.  Northern  visitors  are  often  .seen  making  them.selves  ver>-  un- 
comfortable by  going  out  to  the  Missions  on  horseback  thinking  that  it  is  the 
thing  to  do  in  Texas.  If  you  are  a  good  rider,  all  right,  but  don't  make  yourself 
miserable  by  putting  yourself  for  the  first  time  in  a  Texas  saddle  to  see  the 
Mi.ssions,  or  you  are  very  sure  not  to  appreciate  what  there  is  to  see.  The 
ride  should  be  made  a  separate  numl)er  on  the  program.  Granted, — that 
you  have  made  up  your  mind  to  hire  a  buggy  and  to  see  all  the  Mi.ssions. 
Start  in  the  morning  after  breakfast  taking  a  liglit  lunch  with  you.  You  take 
Garden  street  going  south,  and  noting  as  you  leave  town  the  wide  old  Concepcion 
Ditch  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  road.  You  still  follow  the  same  street  crossing 
the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  track  and  bearing  slightly  to  the  right  ;  cross  the 
S.  A.  &  A.  P.  Railroad  track,  still  following  the  same  road,  until  you  see  the 
Towers  of  the  Mission  Concepcion  standing  conspicuously  up  on  the  left  hand 
side  of  tile  road,  just  two  and  one  quarter  miles  from  the  centre  of  the  city. 
Having  seen  all  that  there  is  to  be  seen  here.  >  on  make  your  way  along  the 
same  road  towartls  the  Riverside  Park,  then  down  to  the  River,  crossing  a  new 
countv  bridge  there  at  the  old  ford. 


14  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

It  was  just  in  this  neighborhood  that  the  first  battle  was  fought  for  Texan 
Independence,  in  ls;55.  After  crossing  the  River,  you  take  what  is  called  the 
River  Road,  but  you  do  not  catch  sight  of  the  River  again  until  you  reach 
the  Mission  of  San  Jose,  not  four  miles  from  the  city.  It  should  be  noon  by  the 
time  that  you  have  done  the.se  two  Missions  thoroughly,  so  if  you  choose  you 
can  drive  down  a  short  distance  to  the  River  and  water  your  horse,  tie,  and  at  a 
very  pretty  spot  under  the  Pecans,  take  your  lunch.  You  must  return  to  San 
Jose  to  take  the  road  to  the  Third  Mission,  passing  the  Pyron  homestead  on  the 
left,  keeping  on  between  fences  until  you  reach  a  branch  of  the  road,  one  towards 
Berg's  Mill,  where  there  are  both  a  bridge  and  a  ford.  The  Third  Mi.ssion  is  on 
the  other  side  of  the  River.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  Missions  are  alternately  on 
different  sides  of  the  River.  The  First  on  the  east  bank,  the  Second  on  the  west, 
the  third  on  the  Bast  and  the  fourth  on  the  West.  Leaving  the  third  you  return 
over  the  bridge  a  short  distance  to  the  branch  of  the  road  that  you  left,  and 
go  down  abrupt!}'  to  the  wooden  bridge  over  the  Piedra  creek.  Quite  close  to 
this  bridge  to  the  left  is  the  old  aqueduct  made  by  the  Franciscan  brothers  nearly 
150  years  ago.  Alight  and  examine  it.  It  is  indeed  a  substantial  and  interest- 
ing work,  a  series  of  low  massive  arches  on  the  top  of  which  runs  the  Mission 
irrigating  ditch.  Leaving  this,  follow  this  branch  road  to  the  fourth  Mission  and 
return  to  the  City  at  pleasure. 

Mission  Concepcion. 

"  To  ruinate  proud  buildings  with  thy  hours 
And  smear  with  dust  their  glittering,  golden  towers." 

In  the  report  of  the  Viceroy  Count  Revilla-gigedo,  referred  to  many  times  in 
this  work,  the  date  of  the  "ereccion"  of  this  Mission  as  well  as  those  of  the  Mi.ssions 
of  the  Alamo,  San  Juan  and  San  Francisco  de  la  Espada,  is  given  as 
171().  San  Jose  is  given  as  being  "erected"  four  years  later  17"2().  This 
does  not  mean  that  the  buildings  were  then  erected,  but  simply  that  in 
that  year  it  was  determined  to  establish  Missions  in  suitable  localities  on 
Spain's  frontiers  for  the  purposes  of  subjecting,  christianizing  and  civilizing  In- 
dian tribes  and  of  firmly  establishing  Spain's  right  to  these  regions  of  territory 
to  which  she  laid  a  just  claim.  It  was  in  the  year  1730  that  the  Mission  of  Nues- 
tra  Sefiora  de  la  Concepcion  Purissima  de  Acuiia  was  located  as  the  report  says 
on  the  site  that  it  now  occupies  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Capital  Town  of  the 
Province.  The  Church  records  show  that  the  foundation  stone  of  this  Mission 
was  laid  March  o,  1731,  about  the  time  that  the  Mission  San  Jose  was  completed, 
and  that  taking  twenty-one  years  to  build  it  was  completed   in  1752.     The   won- 

*  Translation  from  the  "  Infornie  Oficial  "  of  Connt-Revilla-gigedo,  Viceroy  of  Mexico  17!t;>. 

Aktici.e  lltli.  "  On  the  third  expedition  of  the  year  1"1(>,  nine  friars  of  the  College  of  Santa  Cruz  of  Que- 
retaro  and  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe  of  Zacatecas  together  with  the  Superior  or  President,  V.  P.  Fr.  Antonio 
Margil  de  Jesus  established  six  missions  in  the  most  northerly  part  of  the  Province  (Texas)  and  a  few  years 
thereafter  another  was  built  near  the  Presidio  of  Our  I.ady  del  Pilar  dc  los  Adaes  distant  seven  leagues  from 
the  fort  of  Nachitoches  in  I<ouisiana. 

Article  1»".  In  the  year  17:50,  three  of  these  missions.  i/>,  Our  I.ady  de  la  Concepciou,  San  Juan 
Capistrano  and  San  Francisco  de  la  Espatla  were  transferred  to  the  sites  they  now  occupy  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  Capital  Town  of  the  Province  (San  Antonio)  and  the  other  three  were  extinguished  in  the  year  177-1 
as  may  be  seen  by  Article  22  of  the  instructions  contained  in  the  Royal  Regulations  of  the  Presidios  which 
His  Majesty  ordered  dispatched  iindcv  dale  of  lOlh  September  177-." 


MISSION  CONCEPCION. 


15 


der  is,  not  that  it  took  so  long  ])ut  that  it  could  be  completed  in  the  time  by  the 
founders,  with  materials  to  find,  manufacture  and  hew,  and  with  the  necessit>  of 
teaching  an  intraclal)lc  i)eo])lc,  strange  to  intluslrv,  at  once,  how  to  labor  and  the 
arts.  The  reader  is  referred  to  the  ground  phuis  of  the  Missions  illu.strated  in 
this  i)Ook  and  he  will  realize  how  enormous  in  the  wilderness  and  with  such 
difficulties  was  the  undertaking. 

Mission  Concepcion  was  built  like  the  others  for  worship,  for  scholastic  pur- 
poses and  for  defence.  The  barracks  that  surrounded  the  square  have  long  since 
disappeared  and  what  was  for  a  period  the  home  of  ho.spitality  and  the  strong- 
hold and  refuge  of  many  wayfarers  and  travellers  and  alive  witli  the  daily  toil 
ot  its  little  community  and  the  quick  purpo.se  of  its  founders,  is  now  (|uiet  and 
deserted,  a  relic,  and  but  for  the  occasional  service  in  the  chapel  is  an  institution 
that  has  served  its  day.  It  is  pathetic,  realizing  that  there  is  no  help  for  the.se 
grand  old  monuments  of  the  past  but  to  fall  more  and  more  into  decay.  Mission 
Concepcion  is  the  best  preserved  Mission  of  Texas.  Its  ''twin  towers"  and 
Moorish  dome  rising  out  of  the  brush  and  small  timber  in  its  vicinity  arou.se 
wnthin  one  a  mixture  of  curiosity,  a  sense  of  the  incongruous  and  a  delight  of 
the  picturesque.  At  the  Mission  lives  a  family,  which  is  in  charge  and  some  one 
of  them  will  bring  you  the  key  of  the  chapel  and  show  you  what  there  is  to  be 
seen,  but  it  would  be  useless  to  try  and  elicit  any  information.  To  them  the  past 
of  the  Mission  is  as  a  sealed  book  and  it  has  no  romance  for  them.  The  Mission 
Church  fronts  due  West,  and  is  built  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  with  the  towers 
forming  two  wings  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  This  design  corresponds  exactly 
with  that  of  the  Church  of  the  Alamo.  The  front  gateway  is  worthy  of  close  ex- 
amination. The  upper  part  of  the  ornamented  faoade  is  not  an  arch  but  a 
simple  triangle  and  the  arch  of  the  doorway  is,  for  want  of  a  better  definition,  a 
divided  polygon.  In  the  division  or  center  of  the  arch  is  a  sliield  with  arms 
and  devices,  and  here  and  there  on  the  portal  faoade  are  cross  and  scroll,  and 
carved  relief  pillars  at  the  sides  ornamented  with  carved  lozenges.  In  angular 
.spaces  over  the  archway  as  .shown  l)elow  is  the  legend: 


AcESSA 

ES 
EL 

V 

^ 

4 

>  ^ 

<    g 

V     v-/- 

X 

which,  being  interi)reted,  is  "  With  these  arms  be  mindful  to  the  Mission's  Patron- 
ess and  Princess,  and  defend    (or    vindicate)  the   state  of  lier  inn-ity."      Over  this 


16  SAN  ANTONIO  DE   BEXAR. 

winds,  circling  in  and  out,  the  flagelluni  or  knotted  scourge  of  the  order  of  St. 
Francis,  realistically  carved — "Ifitwan't  for  the  knots,  'twould  be  like  a  hair 
lariat,"  as  a  boy  once  remarked.  It  also  has  an  uncanny  suggestion  of  a  hang- 
man's noose.  These  are  again  surmounted  with  other  designs,  and  above  all  on  the 
summit  of  the  faoade  is  a  stone  bearing  the  date  1794,  and  immediately  under- 
neath this  is  a  shield  with  the  initial,  ^^,^  meaning,  "Ave  Maria."  The  only 
stained  glass  in  all  the  Missions  is  the  panes  of  two  little  windows  each  side  of 
the  upper  part  of  the  faoade.  The  front  of  the  Mission  Concepcion  must  have 
been  very  gorgeous  with  color,  for  it  was  frescoed  all  over  with  red  and  blue 
quatrefoil  crosses^  of  different  pattern  and  with  large  yellow  and  orange  squares 
to  simulate  great  dressed  stones.  This  frescoing  is  rapidly  disappearing,  and 
from  but  a  little  distance  the  front  looks  to  be  merely  gray  and  undecorated  stone. 
The  topmost  roofs  of  the  towers  are  pyramidical  and  of  stone,  with  smaller  corner 
pyramidal  cap-stones.  The  upper  stories  of  the  towers  have  each  four  lookout 
windows  of  plain  Roman  arches.  The  tops  of  the  side  walls  of  the  Church  and 
the  circle  wall  of  the  central  dome  have  wide  stone  serrations  in  the  Moorish 
character,  the  points  of  which  around  the  finely  proportioned  dome  stand  out  like 
canine  teeth.  The  towers  have  belfries,  and  at  their  bases,  on  either  side  of  the 
entrance  are  on  the  right,  a  baptistry  11x11  feet  with  massive  thick  walls,  and  on 
the  left  a  similar  small  chamber  used  as  a  vestry.  The  baptistry  walls  are  fres- 
coed with  weird  looking  designs,  dim  and  faded,  of  the  Crucifixion  and  "  los 
dolores."  It  is  quite  dark  in  thi.s  room,  there  being  no  window,  and  a  light 
must  be  procured  to  examine  it.  A  semi-circular  font  projects  from  the  south 
wall,  its  half  bowl  carved  with  what  appears  to  be  a  symbolical  figure  with  out- 
stretched arms  supporting  the  rim.  It  is  a  rude  piece  of  carving,  but  is  artistic. 
Inside,  the  stone  roof  of  the  Chapel  with  its  series  of  arches  and  central  dome,  is 
massive  but  plain.  In  each  wing  of  the  cross  are  altars  or  altar  places.  In  the 
west  end  is  a  choir  loft.  In  the  east,  an  altar  gorgeously  decked  and  painted  in 
the  Catholic  manner,  for  Mass.  The  walls,  roof,  and  ceiling  are  newly  white- 
washed, the  floor  is  "'  Mother  Earth,"  but  some  bran  new  seats  have  been  pro- 
vided. The  Chapel  up  till  recently,  was  in  a  very  neglected  state.  To  Bishop 
Neraz  belongs  the  credit  of  having  it  restored  to  its  present  state  of  cleanliness 
and  comfort.  He  it  was  who  re-dedicated  it  to  Our  Eady  of  Lourdes  on  May  '2. 
1SS7. 

The  mission  was  frequently  used  for  the  quartering  of  troops,  nolal>l_\-  in 
1835.  Santa  Anna  is  said  to  have  expressed  surprise  that  the  Alamo  was  chosen 
to  be  defended  by  the  Texans  in  \H',](\  rather  than  the  Mission  Concepcion,  affecting 
to  recognize,  more  effective  military  points  in  the  Concepcion  Mission  as  a  strong- 
hold. In  1S11)  the  United  States  troops  were  quartered  there  for  awhile  and  it  is 
said  that  they  cleared  the  chapel  of  an  immense  amount  of  accunuilated  rubbish 
and  bat  guano.  In  the  holes  in  the  walls  outside  are  to  l)e  found  the  nesting 
places  of  owls,  pigeons,  doves  and  other  birds.  To  the  south  of  the  chapel, 
westerly,  are  a  series  of  arches  which  were  formerly  cells,  chambers  and  cloisters 
for  the  Mission  inmates,  but  now  u.sed   as  storage  rooms  and  stables.     To  tlie 

*  Tlusf  (|uaticfoils  arc  repealed  over  and  over  a^ain  in  llie  carved  lozenges  of  Uic  pillars  in  relief,  and 
frescoes  of  this  Mission  and  at  San  Jose.  Whellier  there  is  an>  meaning  attached  to  these  i>;\rlienlar  ("ornis  of 
the  cross  lieyond  that  they  are  crosses,  the  editor  is  ni\at)leto  discover. 


'■■'  i 

■   1 

J  .^.  1  i 

J  i 

1 — n 


QoQGepeioi)  (Aissiop. 

The  shaded  part  is  in  ruins.  The  material  is  rough  stone  laid 
in  mortar.  B  is  the  baptismal  chamber.  T  is  the  room  under  the  left 
tower.  D  stands  for  door,  as  /?  for  arch.  There  is  another  room  above 
the  Sacristy. 

The  river  is  towards  the  west  about  %  mile. 

Scale,  40  feet  to  the  inch. 


In  a  work  published  in  the  Spanish  language  at  Saltillo  written  by  ivsteban  L. 
Portillo  and  entitled  "Apuntes  para  la  Historia  Antigua  de  Coahuila  y  Texas,  the 
author  on  page  3a5  remarks  concerning  the  Mission  Coucepcion,  apparently 
deriving  his  information  from  Mexican  State  Records  :— "  In  order  to  guard  it,  the 
Monastery  had  a  stone  wall  with  three  gateways,  as  well  »«,  two  bronze  cannons  of 
an  eight-ounce  calibre,  with  a  weight  of  3  arrobas  8  Ubras,''  (83  lbs  each).  As  has 
been  said  in  our  description  of  this  Mission  the  traces  of  such  walls  are  to-day 
hardly  to  be  defined  and  these  defences  are  not  shown  in  the  plan  for  fear  of  inac- 
curacy. 


.  Wnf  attire  J^hm 

Srei/i'  jfJO  fir/ -J  iiir/t 


7^  \_^   B. 

trli/lltuivd.        I"     I 


t= 


I 


Sai)  Jose  fnissioQ. 

The  shaded  part  is  in  ruins.    D  represents  door,  W 
window.    The  dotted  lines  represent  arches  or  abutments       T  ":,^  "'^ 
for  arches.     The  front  walls  are  5  feet  thick,  others  3% 
and  2%  feet. 

Stale,  jofeet  to  the  inch. 

The  river  U  to  the  north  about  Ji  mile,  running  south  of  east. 


wr  ~i^ 


r-i 


Ej 


\l. 


[jyfdoie  wall 


^    L 


KL\ 


"n 


J 


r^n 


72 


Sai)  Jose   Qrai^ary. 

F  F  F  etc.  are  flying-  buttresses.  The  dwelling  is  two 
stories  high.  The  adobe  wall  is  modern.  The  material  is 
rough  stone  laid  in  mortar. 

The  river  is  towards  the  north,  running  south  of  east. 
Scale,  20  feet  to  the  inch. 


Plazcf. 


L»J, 


!         Chirrdr 


:Mi\ 


Sap  Juai)  /T\issioi7. 

Solid  lines  show  existing  works,  dotted  lines,  old  and  ruined 
ones.  The  river  is  to  the  west  about  loo  yards,  flowing  in  a  southerly 
direction.  D  is  for  door,  W  is  for  window.  The  Granary  and  Church 
are  partly  in  ruins. 

Scale,  80  feet  to  the  inch. 


Espada   /T)i55iOQ. 

Solid  li7ies  show  existing  works,  dotted  lines,  ruined 
works.  T  T  T  are  bastions  or  buhuarks.  A  A  /i  A  A  are 
arched  doorways. 

Scale,  loofeet  to  the  inch. 


I^eferepces 

Illustrating  the  [/ilia  Capital  de  San  Fernando,  Sparjisf] 
Garrison,  Etc. 


1.  The  old  Church  of  San  Fernando. 

2.  Churchyard  Burying  Ground,  now  covered  by  the  Cathedral 
of  1868-72. 

3.  The  Presidio  Garrison  Barracks,  long  since  removed. 

4.  The  old  Plaza  de  Armas  Dwellings  and  Ramparts.  All  3  and  4 
were  claimed  by  the  city  as  city  property  and  in  most  cases  the  city 
substantiated  its  claims,  and,  acquiring  it,  cleared  the  old  buildings 
away.  The  lot  marked  d  was  the  last  private  property  to  disappear- 
1889.  In  the  '40s  and  '50s  a  man  named  Goodman  gave  much  trouble 
before  he  was  finally  ousted  by  law  by  the  city.  Plats  of  most  of 
these  properties,  and  the  names  of  claimants,  may  be  found  in 
Book  1,  City  Engineer's  Records.  The  City  Hall  of  1850-90,  with 
City  Jail,  occupied  N.  W.  corner,  c  d. 

5.  Properties  of  N.  Lewis,  Callaghan,  Groesbeeck,  et  al.,  on  Main 
Plaza,  claimed  and  cleared  by  the  city  similarly  to  those  on  Military 
Plaza  (See  note  4). 

6.  The  isolated  Spanish  family  names  on  the  plan  are  those  of 
some  of  the  original  property  holders. 

7.  The  faintly  dotted  lines  to  and  from  the  Veramendi  and  Garza 
Houses  are  the  approximate  routes  to  Zambrano  Row  and  to  the 
Priest  House  taken  by  the  besieging  companies  under  Milam  and 
F.  W.  Johnston  in  1835.  The  capitulation  of  Cos  to  Burleson  fol- 
lowed in  1835. 

This  plan  is  about  75  varas  to  the  inch,  Rampart  Dwellings  from  6  to  12  varas 
wide,  Garrison  Barracks,  20  varas  wide. 


MIvSvSION  SAN  JOSfi.  17 

south  forming  a  wing-  easterly  are  oilier  buildings  probably  the  sacristy, 
superior's  vestries  and  ([uarters,  these  have  two  stories,  the  upper  being  ap- 
proached by  a  stone  stair-case.  The  square  of  the  Mission  at  this  date,  can 
very  hardly  be  defined,  but  that  the  Mission  was  situated  in  the  southeastern 
corner  of  a  ramparted  square  is  without  doubt.  The  Mission  Stjuare  enclosed 
about  four  acres.  The  brothers  of  the  Mission  formerly  owning  about  100  acres. 
On  April  10th,  17U4,  the  lands  of  Mission  Concepcion  were  partitioned  in  a  simi- 
lar manner  to  those  of  the  Alamo  Mission,  among  its  Indian  dependents,  setting 
aside  certain  portions  of  the  land  for  the  payment  of  Government  taxes.  This 
was  done  by  an  order  of  the  Viceroy  dated  17<S().  The  names  of  the  recipients 
may  be  found  in  a  document  among  our  County  Records.  There  were  oS  souls  at 
that  time  in  the  Mission  conimunit3\  namely  K)  men,  12  married  women,  1  boy,  V> 
girls  and  -'J  widows.     In  ISO")  a  census  showed  41  souls. 

The  name  of  the  Mission  refers  first  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Immaculate  Con- 
ception of  the  Virgin  which  was  a  new  and  l)urning  religious  question  of  the 
day.  Acuna  it  derives  from  the  name  of  the  Manjuess  Casa  de  Fuerte,  Viceroy 
of  Mexico  at  the  time  of  the  Mission's  foundation. 


The  Mission  San  Jose. 

Mission  San  Jose  de  Aguayo  or  Second  Mission  as  it  is  familiarly  called,  is 
dedicated  to  vSt.  Joseph,  the  husband  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  was  "erected"  or 
founded  in  the  year  1720,  when  Marquis  San  Miguel  de  Aguayo  came  to  be  Gov- 
ernor of  Texas  ;  hence  the  name  San  Jose  de  Aguayo.  It  was  probably  begun 
shortly  after,  during  this  man's  Governorship,  for  it  was  the  first  to  be  finished 
and  the  day  of  its  completion  was  made  the  occasion  of  locating  and  beginning 
the  Concepcion,  San  Juan  and  San  Francisco  Missions,  March  5.  1731.  San  Jose 
Mission  is  the  most  beautiful  of  all,  and  its  carving  is  surely  "a  joy  forever." 
The  hand  that  chiseled  the  wonderful  faoade  at  the  main  entrance  of  the  Church, 
the  doorway,  window,  and  pillar  capitals  of  the  smaller  Chapel,  that  now  goes  by 
the  name  of  the  Baptistry,  was  one  of  marvelous  cunning.  The  faeade  is  rich  to 
repletion  with  the  most  exquisite  car\iiig.  Figures  of  Virgins  and  Saints  with 
drapery  that  looks  like  drapery,  cherubs"  heads,  sacred  hearts,  ornate  pedestals 
and  recesses  with  their  conch-like  canoi)ies,  and  cornices  wonderful.  The  door 
way,  pillar  and  arch,  is  daring  in  its  unique  ornamentation — showing  in  its  com- 
bination of  form  the  impression  of  Moorish  outlines.  Otherwise  the  whole  faeade 
is  rich  Rennaissance — figures  and  hearts  alone  with  aiiylhing  realistic  about 
them.  All  other  ornamentation  is  conventional  but  with  nothing  stiff",  every 
curve  showing  a  free  hand.  The  window  above  the  areluva\-  is  a  simple  wreath 
of  such  acanthus-like  curves  and  conchoids  of  surpa.ssing  workmanship. 
The  south  window  of  the  Baptistry  is  considered  by  good  judges  the  finest  gem  of 
architectural  ornamentation  existing  in  i^.merica  to-day.  Its  curves  and  propor- 
tions are  a  perpetual  delight  to  the  eye,  and  often  as  the  writer  has  seen  and  ex- 
amined it,  it  is  of  that  kind  of  art  which  does  not  satiate,  but  ever  reveals  some 
fresh  beauty  in  line  or  curve.  And  to  think  that  men  can  be  found  who  can 
ruthlessly  deface  these  for  the  sake  of  possessing  a  piece  of  the  material.  Was  it 
not  that  the  sculptor  saw  the  perfect  statue  in  the  stone  ?     Surely   here  the  fool 


IN  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

sees  only  the  stone  in  the  material  that  has  been  given  a  beauty  not  its  own.     If 
stones  ever  do  cry  out,  it  is  when  they  are  alive  with  this  touch  of  genius. 

"  Do  you  not  know  me;  does  no  voice  within 
Answer  my  cry,  and  say  we  are  akin  ?" 

But  can  these  desecrators  have  any  kinship  with  Art  ?  It  is  not  the  Texan 
or  the  Mexican  who  has  done  these  things.  Kendall  says,  writing  of  '42, 
"  though  the  Texan  troops  were  long  quartered  here,  (San  Jose)  the  stone  carv- 
ings have  not  been  injured."  And  this  was  in  wartime  when  men  are  more  than 
usually  bent  on  destruction. 

Turn  to  the  foundation  plan  of  San  Jose.  It  will  be  .seen  how  extensive 
these  Mission  buildings  are.  They  are  placed  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
square,  running  almost  due  east  and  west.  "  The  Mission  San  Jo.se  consists  also 
of  a  large  square,  and  numerous  Mexican  families  still  make  it  their  residence. 
To  the  left  of  the  gateway  is  the  granary."  So  says  Kendall.  The  gateway  is 
gone  to-da3'.  The  granary,  with  its  strong  and  curious  flying  buttresses  and 
arched  stone  roof,  is  still  there  and  in  it  families  make  a  home.  The  road  still 
enters  the  Mission  Square  just  at  the  right  of  the  granary,  where  the  old  en- 
trance was.  Here  you  are  in  full  view  of  the  facade  of  the  Mi.ssion  Buildings 
with  the  square  spreading  out  to  the  right  or  south  of  the  long  main  building  of 
the  Mission.  The  Mexican  families  .still  exist  in  huts  erected  upon  the  ruins  of 
the  ramparts  of  the  Mission  Square,  and  in  a  few  years  these  now  hardly  to  be 
defined  foundations  will  have  been  "  improved  "  trom  the  place.  At  the  south- 
western corner  of  the  Mission  buildings  is  a  belfry  tower,  about  sixt}^  feet  high. 
It  has  four  lookout  windows  and  a  pyramidical  stone  roof.  Tucked  in  the  angle 
made  by  this  tower  and  the  .south  wall  of  the  large  Chapel,  is  a  peculiar  round 
tower  to  accommodate  the  winding  stairway  of  solid  hewn  wooden  steps  to  the 
second  story  of  the  belfry  tower.  Frqm  the  second  story  are  very  curious  stairs 
or  ladders  made  of  solid  tree  trunks  notched  and  dressed  with  an  axe,  leading  to 
the  upper  lookout  of  the  tower.  Here,  are  to  be  had  some  fine  views  of  the 
country.  All  over  the  tower  chamber's  walls  are  thousands  of  names  of  visitors. 
Only  a  small  portion  of  the  large  stone  roof  of  the  main  Chapel  remains  and  much 
of  the  north  wall  has  gone,  leaving  a  great  ugly  gap  on  this  .side  and 
the  remnant  of  the  roof  verj^  unsafe  in  appearance.  These  portions  of  the  Chapel 
with  its  dome  fell  in  with  a  great  crash  on  a  stormy  night  of  December,  1S()S.  To 
the  .south  of  the  main  Chapel  is  a  smaller  one,  the  window  and  carving  of  which 
were  referred  to  above.  This  is  roofed  by  three  domes,  the  tops  of  the  enclosing 
walls  being  serrated,  all  quite  in  Moorish  style.  The  entrance  to  this  Chapel  is 
from  the  east  from  an  ante-chamber  or  wing  of  the  cloisters.  The  arch  and  side- 
stones  of  the  entry  door  are  beautifully  sculptured,  and  here,  there  still  remain, 
much  chipped,  once  finely  carved,  cedar  double  doors,  and  although  so  badly  dam- 
aged they  suggest  to  one's  mind  what  the  l)eaut3^  of  the  front  doors  or  gates  at  the 
fa<_'ade  of  the  main  Chapel  might  ha\e  lieen.  In  this  little  Chapel  services  are 
still  occasionally  held.  Its  altar  is  decked  with  ^au(l\  i);ilcliwork  of  a  distinctly 
Mexican  de.ugn,  niul  ni:iii\  a  liltie  lnnnper\-,  h\-  wa\-  of  offering  is  placed  there  liy 
the  simple  and  believing  women  folk  of  the  place.  Some  t)f  the  details  of  the 
cai)itals  of  the  pillars,  the  font  and  other  carving  of  this  little  Chapel  are  illustrated 
in  this  book.     There  are  two  ancient  Spanisli  pictures,  one  hanging  each  side  of  the 


MISSION  SAN  JOSlv.  19 

altar,  nuich  the  worse  for  a.<;e,  scenes  from  the  life  of  St.  Josepli.  One  is  very 
plainly  Ihe  "  Kliglit  into  Egypt."  Tlie  other,  more  difficult  to  make  out,  is  most 
likely  a  picture  of  the  Circumcision.  The  fan-like  fluted  canopies  of  the  window 
and  recesses  have  a  pretty  architectural  effect.  The  cloisters  and  cells,  which 
were  of  two  stories,  are  (piite  extensive  with  a  double  series  of  arches  stretching 
eastwardly  from  the  main  building.  The  outside  arches  are  plain,  wide  semi- 
circular arches,  and  pointed  (/iothic  arches  inside  and  on  the  second  floors. 
The.se  monastic  additions  to  the  Mission  had  formerly  fallen  very  much  into 
decay,  but  in  ISo*)  some  Benedictine  fathers  arrived  here  from  St.  Vincent's 
Abbey  in  the  Pittsburg  Diocese,  Pennsylvania,  wath  the  intention  of  rebuilding 
these  rooms  and  cloisters  for  scholavStic  purpo.ses.  The  intention  was  only  par- 
tially carried  into  effect.  The  industrious  fathers  rebuilt  many  of  the  upper 
Gothic  arches,  as  far  as  can  be  learned,  manufacturing  their  own  red  bricks  for 
that  purpose  and  the  making  of  the  big  oven  at  the  east  end.  What  finally  inter- 
fered with  this  purpose  of  the  Benedictines  it  is  difhcult  to  discover,  but  it  is  more 
than  likely  that  wars  and  rumors  of  wars  and  an  unsettled  epoch  had  much  to  do 
with  the  abandonment  of  their  project,  adding  one  more  unfinished  chapter  to  the 
heroic  historv  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Texas. 


Notwithstanding  their  irrigation  ditches  and  the  proximity  of  the  River  to 
all  the  four  Missions,  the  constructors  did  not  forget  one  important  itein — water, 
in  case  of  the  community  being  confined  to  the  Mission  Square.  Each  of  the 
Missions  has  a  substantially  built,  serviceable  well,  sunk  close  to  the  main  building. 
San  Jose  was  erected  under  more  than  ordinary  difficulty,  the  builders  being 
under  constant  fear  and  expectation  of  attack  by  hostiles.  Perhaps  fear  is  a  word 
too  foreign  to  the  natures  of  these  brave  and  religious  pioneers  who  struggled 
with  such  pious  determination  to  sirccess.  It  must  have  been  very  disheartening 
to  find  that  all  their  faithful  labor  was  in  vain,  though  no  record  of  any  such  ex- 
pression is  extant.  Captain  Pike,  who  in  his  famous  expedition  visited  this 
Mission  in  1S07,  relates  that  the  Priest  told  him  that  "  it  appeared  to  him  that  the 
Indians  could  not  exist  under  the  shadow  of  the  whites — as  the  nations  who 
formed  the  San  Antonio  Missions  had  been  nurtured  and  taken  all  the  care  of 
that  it  was  possible,  and  put  on  the  same  footing  as  the  Spaniards  ;  yet,  notwith- 
standing they  had  dwindled  away  until  the  other  two  Missions  (San  Juan  Capes- 
trana  [sic]  and  Ea  Purisima  Concepcion)*  had  become  entirely  depopulated,  and 
the  one  where  he  resided  had  not  then  more  than  sufficient  to  perform  his  hou.se- 
hold  labor.  From  this  he  had  formed  an  idea  that  God  never  intended  them  to 
form  one  people,  but   that  they   should  alwaws  remain  distinct  and  separate."  t 

Bi.shop  Neraz  thinks  the  figures  on  the  front  of  San  Jose  to  be,  The  \'irgin. 
San  Jose,  San  Benedict,  San  Augustine  and  San  Francisco.  Other  authorities 
have  given  a  slight  variation  of  this  list.  The  front  was  frescoed  in  red,  blue 
and  yellow  in  pretty  designs,  l)ut  this  is  now  \-ery  difficult  to  discern. 

*  Ccusus  of  1805  .showed  forty -one  soul.s  in  Mission  Conccpcion. 

i  This  extract  from  "  Pike's  Expedition  "  is  taken  from  Yoakum's  History,  Vol.  I.,  p.  lil.  With  regard  to 
this— Where  are  the  nations  of  the  Indian  ("with  Iialfhis  face  vermilion")  mentioned  in  the  Records  of  Marri.iges 
of  Mission  Concepcion  ?     (See  Interview  with  Bishop  Neraz)      •  Kven  with  the-  g)  )d  Knight  Charlemain  I  '• 


20  SAX  ANTONIO  DE  BKXAR. 

Mission  of  San  Juan. 

The  Third  Mission,  or  Mission  San  Juan  de  Capistrano  was  named  after 
Santa  Giovanni  di  Capistrano,  a  friar  of  the  Franciscan  order  who  was  born  in  the 
year  loS()  in  the  little  town  of  Capistrano  in  the  Abruzzi  in  Italy,  or  rather  in 
what  was  formerly  the  kingdom  of  the  two  Sicilies.  The  Mission  was  begun  in 
1~'M  on  March  nth.  It  is  situated  on  the  left  or  east  bank  of  the  river  about  six 
miles  from  San  Antonio,  a  very  picturesque  locality  by  the  San  Juan  ford  and 
bridge.  The  settlement  there  is  called  Berg's  Mill  after  a  Scouring  Mill  erected 
some  years  ago.  The  S.  A.  &  A.  P.  R.  R.  Depot  goes  by  that  name  also. 
About  a  half  mile  from  this  settlement  on  the  right  or  west  bank  of  the  River  is 
the  old  aqueduct  already  alluded  to  in  the  introductory  to  the  Missions — this 
aqueduct  takes  water  over  the  Piedra  creek  for  the  use  of  the  Fourth  Mission 
lands.  Mission  San  Juan  is  less  remarkable  and  distinguished  than  the  other 
two  just  described  but  has  its  points  of  interest.  Its  .square  is  well  defined  and 
the  design  of  a  complete  Mission  can  be  made  out  with  less  difficulty  here  and  at 
the  Fourth  Mission  than  at  the  others.  Its  little  granary,  its  chapel,  its  ruined 
convent  or  monastery  which  must  hav^e  been  a  building  of  some  importance  in  its 
day,  and  the  foundations  of  a  chapel  which  was  never  completed  are  all  objects  of 
interest.  These  main  buildings  unlike  those  of  the  First  and  Second  Missions 
form  parts  of  and  are  built  into  the  boundary  or  rampart  walls.  A  number  of 
Mexican  families  live  here,  some  of  the  members  of  which  possess  marked  Indian 
features.  In  the  neighborhood  of  San  Juan  there  are  more  traces  of  the  Indian 
in  faces  and  characteristics  than  anywhere  else  in  Texas.  The  best  time  to  note 
this  is  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  when  they  usually  congregate  at  one  of  the  houses 
near  the  ford  for  their  weekly  cock  fight  which  seems  to  be  the  excitement  of  the 
community,  that  is  among  the  men. 

The  Chapel  of  San  Juan  is  very  plain  and  simple  in  construction.  Just  four 
walls — the  tower  being  merely  an  elevation  of  a  portion  of  the  East  wall  with  open 
arches  in  it  for  bells.  There  is  still  one  bell  left.  The  Chapel  is  roofless  except 
for  one  small  room  at  the  south  end  which  is  walled  off  by  an  adobe  wall  and 
which  is  u.sed  as  a  Sacristy,  vestry,  and  receptacle  for  the  small  remaining  stock  of 
figures,  books,  pictures  and  other  such  bric-a-brac.  The  inside  of  the  walls  of 
the  Chapel,  however,  will  afford  to  such  as  care  for  that  sort  of  thing  a  few  min- 
utes interesting  study  in  rude  frescoing.  The  frescoes  are  almost  obliterated  by 
exposure  to  the  weather  andthe  wonder  is  that  they  have  not  long  since  been  washed 
entirely  ofi"  by  heavy  rains.  They  are  a  curious  mixture  of  Old  and  New  World 
ideas.  Detail  of  Moorish  design,  a  Roman  arch,  an  Indian  figure  and  pigments. 
"The.se  frescoes,'  says  Father  Bouchu.  "I  think  are  of  later  date  than  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Chapel  and  they  were  probably  permitted,  to  satisfy  the  Indian  na- 
ture's love  of  color."  A  painted  rail  aljout  four  feet  high  running  around  the 
Chapel  first  attracts  the  eye,  then  the  elaborately  painted  Roman  Arch  in  red 
and  orange  over  the  doorway.  The  design  of  this  decoration  is  decidedly  of  a 
Moorish  caste,  zigzag  strips  and  lilocks  of  color  with  corkscrew  and  tile  work, 
and  pillars  of  red  and  orange  blocks.  These  pillars  are  al)out  twelve  feet  high  and 
support  another  line  or  rail  of  color  and  upon  this  upper  line  are  a  series  of  fig- 
ures of  musicians  each  playing  a  different  instrument.  The  figures  for  some  rea- 
son are  much  more  indi.stinct    than  their  instruments,  the  latter  being  accurately 


1 

"'  .1  ■ 

' 

'\. 

i 

'( 

MIvSSIOX  SAN  FRANCISCO.  21 

drawn  and  easy  to  distinguish.  There  is  one  of  these  fij^ures  over  the  frescoed 
arch  of  the  door.  It  is  a  mandolin  ])hiyer.  Tlie  player  is  indi.stinct,  portions  of 
his  chair  and  instrument  plainer,  the  latter  can  he  made  out  to  be  of  dark  brown 
color  with  the  finger  board  and  keys,  red.  To  the  right  of  him  is  a  violin  player, 
the  be.st  preserved  sample  of  all  —the  violin  and  bow  are  quite  distinct,  .so  are  the 
features  of  the  face  of  the  figure,  his  hair  is  black,  lips  red,  face  and  legs  or- 
ange, feet  black,  the  body  of  the  violin  orange,  the  rest  of  him  and  the  bow  red.  To 
the  right  of  him  again  is  a  guitar  player,  dres.sed  in  a  bluish  green  color,  sitting 
in  a  red  chair,  the  instrument  is  quite  di.stinct.  Directly  opposite  this  figure  vis 
a  vis  is  a  viol  player;  the  instrument  being  held  by  the  player,  finger  board  up, 
from  the  left  shoulder  across  the  body  ;  head,  hands,  instrument  and  bow  being 
distinct,  but  the  body  of  him  is  "played  out.""  To  the  right  of  this  gho.stly 
looking  viol  pla5^er  is  a  harp  and  a  chair  but  the  player  is  either  invisible  or  van- 
ished. The  lower  rail,  which  is  the  nnich  more  elaborate  of  the  two,  supports  here 
and  there  a  flower  pot  and  flowers  in  incongruous  colors  of  blui.sh  green  and  dull 
red^carnations  and  roses  being  prime  favorites,  with  an  occasional  cross  on  a 
painted  pedestal  or  dado. 

If  there  is  any  record  of  the  partition  of  the  lands  of  this  Mission  it  has  not 
been  discovered,  at  any  rate  with  regard  to  the  rooms  in  the  ramparts  it  seems  to 
have  been  customary  at  the  Missions  that  a  number  of  years  occupation  of  rooms 
or  barracks  in  any  Mission  gave  some  kind  of  title  or  claim  to  those  rooms  to  the 
occupants.  The  Mission  Government  was  generous  to  its  converts  and  depend- 
ants. The  Missions  were  projected  for  their  benefit.  This  must  explain  such 
doctiments  as  that  which  may  be  found  in  the  County  Records  dated  January  2Sth, 
1826,  which  relates  that  Maria  de  las  Santos  Lopez  and  Bartara  de  las  Santos 
lyopez  who  were  then  occupying  three  rooms  in  the  Mission  San  Juan  conveyed 
the  same  to  the  Province  of  Texas  for  the  sum  of  $84.00  January  28th,  1826. 
This  sum  was  paid  to  them  by  Antonio  Saucedo.  then  Chief  Justice. 


Mission  San  Francisco  de  la  Espada. 

The  Fourth  Mission  or  Mission  San  Francisco  de  la  Espada,  was  ''erected  " 
as  were  Missions  Concepcion  and  San  Juan,  in  the  year  ITK),  ])ut  it  was  not  lo- 
cated and  begun  to  be  built  until  March  -"ith,  17-"!1.  It  is  situated  on  the 
right  or  west  bank  of  the  San  Antonio  River  al)out  nine  miles  iVom  the  city,  and 
is  dedicated  to  San  FVancisco  de  la  Espada,  that  is,  to  St.  l-'rancis  of  Assi;5si,  the 
founder  of  the  great  order  of  Franciscans,  but  the  question  arises,  whence  "  de  la 
Espada  ?  "  St.  Francis  of  the  sword  ?  Tradition  says  that  the  old  tower  of  the 
Chapel  was  built  in  the  form  of  the  hilt  of  a  sword,  and  that  the  imagination  of 
the  founders  supplied  length  to  the  blade  to  complete  the  similarity  to  the  whole 
weapon.  Perhaps  it  was  that  Uiey  were  posses.sed  with  a  portion  of  the  spirit  of 
that  Greek  parent  whose  son  complained  of  the  shortness  of  his  sword;  "Add  a 
step  to  it,  my  son  !  "  The  allusion  to  the  sword  may  have  had  some  reference  to 
the  period  of  the  awakening  of  St.  Francis  after  his  early  iilne.ss,  for  it  is  related 
of  him  that  he  did  not  know  at  first  whether  he  was  called  to  be  a  valiant  soldier 
and  knight,  or  to  be  a  faithful  .servant  of  the  Church  Militant. 


2-2  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

Parts  of  the  ramparts  or  enclosing  walls  of  this  Mission  are  prett}'  well  pre- 
served, others  are  in  total  rnins,  but  the  foundations  of  the  limits  can  be  clearly 
made  out  all  around  except  at  points  facing  the  banks  of  the  River.  The  Square  is 
of  irregular  shape  as  will  be  seen  by  the  plan  furnished.  In  the  southeast  corner  is 
an  object  of  much  interest.  Projecting  from  the  angle  of  the  walls  outwardly,  is  a 
small  round  tower  of  quite  a  feudal  character.  It  is  in  a  state  of  fine  preservation 
and  its  three  dressed  stone  round  cannon  holes  near  the  base,  and  its  seven 
musket  holes  about  eight  feet  from  the  ground,  lend  it  quite  a  menacing  presence. 
The  interior  of  it  is  iir  equally  good  repair,  and  one  cannot  refrain  from  conjuring 
up  vivid  scenes  of  fights  with  Indians  in  those  early  days  of  the  Mission  struggles 
with  the  red  man — of  women  handing  out  the  loaded  muskets  from  the  secure 
chambers  to  the  right  and  left  rear,  of  the  unerring  marksmen  making  it  very  hot 
for  the  attacking  hostile,  with  an  occasional  lull  in  which  is  run  out  a  small  brass 
swivel  gun*  to  the  dimunitive  embrasure,  which  makes  the  Apache  or  Comanche 
wish  he  were  safe  home  in  his  fastness  among  the  hills  of  Bandera.  And  it 
might  have  been  that  the  recent  remembrance  of  the  total  destruction  of  the  San 
Saba  Mission  and  the  massacre  of  its  inmates  in  17oS  lent  some  zest  to  these  en- 
counters. For  while  these  old  Missionary  pioneers  were  ever  anxious  to  deal  ten- 
derly with  any  hostile,  yet  unfortunately  there  were  occasions  when  sternness 
was  necessary, 

•  That  they  might  feel 
The  velvet  scabbard  held  a  sword  of  steel." 

There  was  another  of  these  ' '  baluartes  ' '  or  bastions  on  the  south  wall  by  the 
road,  west  of  this  one,  but  no  trace  of  it  is  to  be  found.  The  chambers  to  the  west 
of  the  existing  "baluarte"  have,  looking  out  upon  the  square,  alternate  doors  and 
arches,  and  one  of  the  wide  arched  entrances  still  exists.  The  rooms  to  the  north 
have  been  fitted  up  for  a  school  house  by  Rev.  Father  Bouchu.  who  is  wonder- 
fully active  and  persevering.  He  knows  something  of  many  subjects,  which  he 
has  practically  proved  here  at  the  Mission.  "Padre  Francisco  "  is  Priest,  law- 
yer, bricklayer,  stone  mason,  photographer,  historian,  printer.  His  little  pamph- 
lets in  Spanish  would  be  a  credit  to  an  office  of  much  larger  pretensions.  He  has 
lived  in  this  community  for  many  years  and  is  well  versed  in  information  pertain- 
ing to  the  history  of  the  Missions,  and  being  himself  one  of  those  Priests  who  join 
with  their  vocation  a  knowledge  of  practical  handicraft,  he  enters  into  the  spirit  of 
the  founders  with  more  than  ordinary  keenness.  He  is  simple,  unaffected,  and 
garrulous,  and  meets  the  wants  of  the  little  settlement.  He  has  built  with  his 
own  hands  upon  the  ruin  of  the  old  Convent  and  arcade  a  comfortable  Priest 
house.  Under  his  rule  the  Mission  Chapel  has  been  almost  entirely  renewed,  the 
front  only  retaining  a  portion  of  its  ancient  work.  The  Chapel  is  in  the  form  of 
a  cross.  The  front  is  the  belfry  tower  and  is  that  portion  that  is  supposed  to 
represent  the  likeness  to  a  sword— perhaps  it  bore  more  of  that  resemblance  be- 
fore its  restoration.  Its  three  bells  clang  out  three  times  a  day,  and  would  be 
startling  on  the  still  country  air  to  one  who  was  ignorant  of  the  vicinity  of  the 
Mission.  It  is  said  that  some  of  the  Mission  bells  were  cast  in  San  Antonio  in  its 
earliest  days,  so  there   is  no  knowing  what  these  old   Missionaries  did  not  come 

'  Mr.  Albert  Maverick  has  one   of  these    little    Spanish     brass    gnns  as  an    oinanicnl    or  curiosity  in    his 
drawing  looni. 


MISSION  SAN   FRANCISCO.  23 

preixired  to  do.  Tliere  arc  sex'cral  pretty  little  bits  of  wron.^ht  iron  work  in  tliis 
and  tlie  other  Missions.  Here  is  another  artistic  accomplishment  to  be  added  to 
the  list  of  those  possessed  by  the  fathers.  The  entrance  door  of  the  Chapel  is  un- 
mistakably Moorish,  havin*;  the  true  Alhanibra  shape  and  lines.  Sebastian 
Tejada,  the  Mi.ssion's  oldest  resident,  maintains  that  there  was  still  another  place 
of  worship  on  the  inside  of  the  South  wall  by  the  road,  here  was  the  old  main 
South  entrance  and  the  Granary  was  l)uiU  projecting  lengthwise  outside  the 
w^alls  by  the  same  entrance.  Only  the  bare  foundation  of  these  two  buildings 
now  exist.  Opposite  the  old  Con\ent  is  the  well  which  was  never  forgotten  in 
the  building  of  a  Mission.  The  Conv^ent,  its  yard,  (which  form  now  the  Padre's 
residence)  and  the  Chapel  or  Church  are  built  into  and  form  portions  of  the 
western  ramparts.  A  plan  and  three  illu.strations  of  this  Mission  are  included  in 
this  book.  Several  Mexican  families  still  reside  in  tumble-dowm  huts  on  the  lines 
of  the  Mission  Sc^uare. 

It  was  this  Square  that  the  Texan  Army  of  Independence  made  their  first 
camping  ground — on  the  place  that  is  now  much  overgrown  with  mesquite 
brush.  Here  Stephen  F.  Austin  joined  the  troops  as  Commander  in  Chief  upon 
his  escape  from  Mexico,  and  where — "  but  that  is  another  story," — An  interview 
with  Sebastien  Tejada  will  perhaps  be  of  some  interest. 

An  interview  with  Sebastien  Tejada,  an  old  and  intelligent  Mexican,  who 
was  born  in  one  of  the  Mission  Dwellings  in  1818,  Mission  Francisco  de  la  Es- 
pada  or  Fourth  Mission.  Interview  held  on  May  20th,  1S'.)().  In  reply  to  many 
questions  he  stated  substantiall}-  as  follows  : 

"I  w^as  born  here  in  IS];;.  I  have  lived  here  all  m\-  life.  I  was  born  aliout 
the  time  that  Arredondo  came  through.  This  Mission  seems  to  be  much  the 
same  as  when  I  first  remember  it, — only  some  of  the  buildings  were  more  com- 
plete. I  remember  the  Convent  before  it  was  so  much  altered.  I  remember  the 
arcades  (row  of  arches  of  the  Convent)  and  the  granary  which  projected  from  the 
entrance  on  the  southern  boundary.  Also  the  foundations  of  the  old  Church  in- 
side the  walls  projected  from  the  granary — the  present  Church  is  quite  new,  except 
the  front.  I  do  not  remember  ever  seeing  the  "  baluarte  " — (the  fortified  tower  on 
the  southeastern  corner) — used  but  I  have  heard  of  its  being  used  against  the  In- 
dians. Yes  I  remember  the  hostile  Indians  coming  upon  us  many  times — but 
they  were  general!)-  fought  in  my  time  inside  the  square  of  the  Mission.  The 
dwellings  used  to  be  much  more  used  formerly.  We  used  to  have  and 
house  friendly  Indians,  but  they  mostly  left  at  last.  I  remember  when  there 
were  three  Padres  to  do  service  here.  The  old  Church  was  pulled  down  about 
fifty  years  ago.  Dependants  of  the  Mission  used  to  live  in  the  barracks  at  the 
corner  where  the  baluarte  is.  I  remember  another  "baluarte"  at  the  entrance 
opposite  the  granary.  The  walls  by  the  other  entrance  of  the  western  boundary 
had  loop  holes,  too,  but  not  round  towers.  I  remember  often  the  Spanish  troops 
camping  here.  I  remember  Bowie  well,  he  married  Gov.  \'eramendi's  daughter. 
He  was  a  fine  looking,  fair  man.  I  remember  the  army  of  Austin  and  Fannin 
camping  here  in  1.S3-").  They  camped  in  the  middle  of  the  Plaza.  Many  colonists 
(he  called  them  coloni.sts  of  his  own  accord  which  was  a  touch  of  old  days)  came 
here  at  that  time.      I  remember  Santa  Anna,  I  saw  him.      He  had  one  leg.     I  re- 


24  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

member  ven-  well  that  the  dead  of  the  Alamo  fight  were  burnt.  The  Texans 
separately  from  the  Mexican  dead.  It  was  the  Mexican  custom  to  thus  burn 
their  dead  after  battle.  I  remember  the  fight  well.  I  don't  know  what  the  Tex- 
ans defended  in  the  Alamo,  but  thought  it  was  the  whole  Mission  walls.  I  don't 
know.  I  knew  Seiiora  Candelaria  formerly.  She  is  old,  may  be  a  hundred. 
She  might  hav^e  been  in  the  Alamo  during  the  fight.     Quien  Sabe." 

HERE    ENDETH    THE    FOURTH    MISSION. 


The  Plazas. 

These  open  spaces  which  are  characteristic  of  Latin  America,  and  to  a  great 
extent  of  Texas    are  as  follows,  beginning  in  the  east  and  traveling  westward  : 

Alamo  Plaza. — Is  the  outcome  of  an  original  space  around  the  Alamo, 
added  to  by  the  destruction  of  its  outworks  the  "  Muralla  del  Alamo."  It  has 
recently  been  converted  into  a  beautiful  garden  and  surrounding  it  are  the  follow- 
ing buildings  of  interest  :  The  Church  of  the  Alamo,  the  Opera  House  and  Club, 
the  Federal  Building,  and  the  Menger  Hotel.  This  ground  was  the  scene  of 
Santa  Anna's  bloody  assaults  on  the  Alamo  in  March,  1836. 

Main  Plaza. — Is  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  business  heart  of  the 
city  and  is  connected  with  Alamo  Plaza  by  Commerce  and  North  Alamo  street. 
This  Plaza  was  anciently  named  La  Plaza  de  las  Yslas,  and  fronting  on  it  and 
running  back  to  the  Military  Plaza  is  the  Cathedral  of  San  Fernando,  formerly 
the  old  Parish  Church  and  yard.  This  square  is  also  laid  out  as  a  handsome 
pleasure  ground. 

Military  Plaza,— Or,  La  Plaza  de  Armas,  lies  a  block  to  the  west  of 
Main  Plaza  and,  pre\'ious  to  the  erection  of  the  new  Municipal  Building,  which 
occupies  a  site  in  its  centre,  was  from  time  inmiemorial  the  heart  of  Mexican  life. 
The  small  vendors,  the  freighters,  the  pastores,  peones  and  vaqueros,  all  congre- 
gated here.  Here,  too,  still  stand  the  old  Court  House  and  Jail,  commonly  called 
the  "  Bat  Cave." 

At  night,  in  the  olden  time,  and  in  a  modified  form  up  to  within  a  few 
months,  was  to  be  seen  a  unique  spectacle  of  open  air  life  belonging  rather  to  the 
tropics  than  to  any  part  of  the  realm  of  Uncle  Sam. 

Imagine  a  large  .square  at  that  time  badly  lighted  as  to  municipal  illumina- 
tion, but  ablaze  with  small  camp  fires  and  flaming  lamps  swinging  above  rows 
of  improvised  and  shaky  tables.  All  night  long  one  might  be  served  here  with 
viands  hot  from  the  Mexican  cuisme — Chi/icon  came,  Tamales,  Enchiladas,  Chili 
verde,  frijoles  and  the  leather-like  tortillas.  The  more  fastidious  American 
might  enjoy  delicately  fried  eggs  and  chicken  with  a  cup  of  fair  coffee,  followed, 
perchance,  by  a  corn-shuck  "r/^a;vv,"  rolled  by  the  hand  of  the  dark-eyed 
"  muchacha  "  in  charge. 

These  a/  /resco  restaurateurs  have  been  hunted  by  electric  lights  and  city  im- 
provements from  Plaza  to  Plaza,  until  now  a  poor  remnant  of  them  may  be  found 
still  further  west  on  Milam  S(|uare  near  the  grave  of  the  hero,  whilst  a  few  others 


!t!^ 


T     "/^-S 


>IICE    AT    SAN  JOS£. 


Till-    MIMTAKV   IvSTAI'.I.ISIIMl'XT,  ir, 

cling  tenaciousl\'  to  a  coii^ii  of  vantage  in   front  of  the-  l'"c(kral  huildiiin  on   Alaiiuj 
Plaza  in  the  east. 

Hy  the  tourist  "  from  the  states,"  these  peripatetic  tal)les  are  eaj^erly  sought 
for  as  a  curiosity  to  be  seen,  but  only  to  be  patronized  in  a  <;ingerly  kind  of  way 
from  a  weak  misgiving  as  to  the  origin  of  the  victuals. 

As  day  dawns  and  the  lamps  show  dinnner,  these  queer  hotel  keepers  put  out 
their  fires  and  folding  tlieir  tables,  '"  silently  steal  away  "  until  another  night. -^' 


THE  MILITARY  ESTABLISHMENT. 

Headquarters  Department  of  Texas  and  the  Post  of  San  Antonio. 
The  Post  of  San  Antonio  now  established  on  Government  Hill,  about  one 
mile  north  of  the  city,  had  its  official  beginning  in  lSG-3.  This  date,  however,  is 
only  that  of  a  new  birth,  and  for  those  who  are  interested  in  such  matters,  we 
append  to  the  purely  "Guide  Book"  information  of  this  page  some  further  re- 
marks on  the  Military  history  of  San  Antonio  from  a  much  earlier  date. 

The  Present  Post,  then,  went  to  housekeeping  in  18()o,  immediately  after  the 
war,  in  buildings  hired  for  the  purpose  The  troops  remained  here  until  187o, 
when  the3^  were  withdrawn  under  Special  Order  No.  148,  Headquarters  Depart- 
ment Texas,  dated  August  7th  of  that  year.  They  returned  in  accordance  with 
Special  Order  No.  158,  dated  August  •28th.  PSTo,  from  the  same  Headquarters. 

After  many  changes,  as  set  forth  hereafter,  the  present  magnificent  site  was 
occupied  under  orders  dated  December  2(Jth,  ls~\), — the  occupation,  so  far  as  the 
Post  was  concerned,  taking  place  on  the  '22d  of  the  same  month,  the  Department 
Headquarters  remaining  some  time  longer  in  the  city. 

The  following  will  be  of  interest  to  visitors  : 

The  hill  is  reached  by  the  Belknap  Street  Cars,  Avenue  C.  line.  The  Post 
is  situated  on  a  rolling  plateau,  overlooking  the  city,  and  elevated  7<)'2  feet  above 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  in  latitude  29°-2(r  'A'.V'  north,  and  1)8°  27'  ■'>■'>"'  west  longitude. 

There  is  a  telegraph  office  at  Department  Headquarters  and  a  railway  con- 
nection between  the  Quartermaster's  Depot  and  the  Southern  Pacific  system. 

The  buildings  were  begun  on  June  21st,  1S77,  P,raden  &  Angus,  contractors, 
and  have  only  recently  been  completed,  the  Government  Hospital  being  built  in 
1885  and  the  "New  Post,"  contracted  for  September  lo,  1888.  The}- are  tastefully- 
designed,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  accompanying  illustrations,  and  are  located  on 
a  reservation  of  l()2.21  acres.  Of  this  noble  site,  so  worthily  occupied  by 
Uncle  Sam,  '.»2.7->  acres  were  donated  by  the  city  ;  l'.».].s  were  acquired  liy 
purchase,  April  2sth,  18,S1  ;  P.».2!)  acres  by  decrees  of  the  r>istrict  Court  of 
Bexar  County,  dated  April  7th  and  May  25th,  1883,  and  .115  acres  were  granted 
by  the  city  of  San  Antonio  to  complete  the  donation  heretofore  referred  to. 

*Refcreiicc  i-<  liad  for  further  particulars  as  to  tliese  interesting  public  places  to  the  accompanying- 
maps  of  I, a  Villa  Capital  dc  San  Fernando,  and  the  map  of  the  heart  of  the  modern  city,  also  to  many  further 
details  in  historical  portions  of  this  work. 


26  SAN  ANTONIO  ni-:  l^vXAR. 

It  will  be  noted,  further  on.  that  other  sites  had  been  offered  to  the  Govern- 
ment by  the  city  authorities,  both  before  and  after  the  war.  but  for  various  reasons 
none  of  them  were  accepted. 

In  addition  to  the  Officers'  Quarters  of  the  ''  Old  "  and  "  New  "  Posts  and 
the  extensive  Barracks,  are  the  Department  Offices  and  Ouartern.aster's  Depot, 
the  following  data  will  give  an  idea  of  their  importance  : 

They  are  built  around  a  quadrangle  024  feet  square,  the  main  facade  fronting 
south  is  499  feet  G  inches  by  o;>  feet  and  two  stories  high.  The  north  front  is  ()24 
feet  by  MO  feet  and  of  one  story  ;  the  whole  comprising  oO  store  rooms,  20  offices, 
extensive  work  .shops  and  a  cellar. 

In  the  center  of  the  quadrangle  is  a  tower  formerly  u.sed  as  a  water  tower,  and 
containing  a  clock.  It  is  88  feet  high,  and  from  its  summit  a  fine  view  of  the  city 
and  its  environs  may  be  obtained.  Below  lies  the  town  with  the  San  Antonio 
River  meandering  .southward  on  its  tortuous  way  to  the  Gulf,  doubling  aiul  turn- 
ing on  its  journey,  as  tho'  loath  to  leave  the  scenes  of  its  birth. 

Military  Drills. — A  feature  of  Post  life,  of  probably  the  most  interest  to 
visitors,  is  the  Dre.ss  Parades  and  other  military  functions  which  are  constantly 
taking  place  on  the  hill. 

They  occur  as  follows  : 

Drills. — Almo.st  daily,  the  time  varying  with  the  season  of  the  year.  Dress 
Parade,  generally  on  Tuesday  and  Thursday  at  the  hour  before  sun-.set.  The 
Monthly  Muster  and  Inspection  takes  place  on  the  last  day  of  each  month, 
usually  about  10  a.  m.,  it  is  an  iiiteresting  sight.  Guard  Mount,  with  full  band, 
occurs  daily  about  8:30,  a.  m.,  l)ut  the  hour  is  sometimes  changed  during  the  in- 
tense heat  of  summer. 

The  Organization  of  the  Dei)artment  and  Post  may  be  learned  in  great  de- 
tail from  the  Roster  issued  monthly  from  the  office  of  the  x\ssistant  Adjutant 
General  of  the  Department. 

The  Arsenal  is  located  far  from  the  Post  on  South  Flores  street  and  may  also 
be  reached  by  the  Belknap  line  of  street  cars.  It  is  commanded  by  an  officer  of 
the  Ordnance  Corps,  Major  Babbitt,  who  constitutes  one  of  the  Department  Com- 
mander's Staff"  and  supplies  the  troops  with  ammunition  and  accoutrements. 

At  the  Post  are  quartered  Brigadier  General  Stanley,  commanding  the  De- 
partment, and  his  Personal  and  Departmental  Staff's.  Col.  Black  commanding 
the  Post  with  four  troops  of  Cavalry,  two  Batteries  of  Light  Artillery  and  six  com- 
panies of  Infantry,  and  Col.  Weeks  Chici  nuaitcrmaster,  in  charge  of  the  De- 
partment Depot  and  Offices. 

The   following  is   a  list   of  the    Po.st    Conunanders.      The  history    of  the    De- 
partment is  treated  elsewhere. 
Capt.  N.  Prime,  lOth  Infantry  up    to  June.   \s~:\,  afterwards  transferred    to    Fort 

McKavett. 
Ca])t.  J.  W.  I'Vencli,  Jul\-,   \^~-'>.  lield    connnand    until  the   rcinoxal  of  the   troops 

in  August  and   SL-j)tend)er  of  the  same   year.      Capt.  iMench   was  transferred 

to  I'ort  Clark. 


NOTKS  ON   MIMTARV   Al-l-AIRS.  27 

Capt.  vSfllers   returned   with   the  troops  ( Co.  I),   Kith    Infantry)   in    Auj;ust,   In7">. 

Capt.  Wilson,  April.  Is77,  Co.  I-:,  10th  Infantry. 

Major  McMillen,  Deccniher  li'th,  1^77,  in  command  of  four  comi)anies  of  the 
2nd  Artillery  at  Camp  Guilford  Bailey  (the  lower  portion  of  the  present  '"old" 
post)  with  Capt.  Patterson  and  Company  A,  2()th  Infantry,  stationed  in  town. 
Capt.  Patterson   and   his  Compan_\    were  transferred   to  Fort   Brown  in  June, 

isso. 

Col.  Shaffer,  June.    ISSO,    si.x:    Companies,    Ist  Infantry,  afterwards  transferred  to 

Fort  Davis. 
Capt.  Dicke}-,  Uecember,    1S90,   Co.  E,    22nd    Infantry,  afterwards  transferred  to 

New  Mexico. 
Col.  Otis,  October,  1888,  two  Troops,  8th  Cavalry,  increased  by  four  companies, 

l(]th  Infxuitry.     Col.  Otis  was  transferred  with  the  Sth  Cavalry  to  Dakota  in 

October,  1887.     Captain  I,ancaster,  commanding  Battery  "F,"  ord  Artillery, 

arrived    in    December,  1882      Capt.  Lancaster    was    relieved   in    November, 

ISSC),  by  Capt.  Burbank — the  Battery  remaining  here. 
Col.  vSmiih,  May,  1888,  the   Kith    Infantry  left  for  Utah  and  were  replaced  by  six 

Companies  of  the  19th  Infantry\ 
Col.  Black,  May,  18*)0,  lUth  Infantry  leaves  and  are  replaced  by  six  Companies, 

2;h-d  Infantry;  four  troops,   ord  Cavalry   and  one   Battery  of  Light   Artillery. 

These  troops,  with  the  Battery  of  Artillery  before  mentioned,  now  constitute 

the  Garrison  of  the  Post  of  San  Antonio. 

Some  Further  Notes  on  Military  Affairs. 

Perhaps  it  is  because  of  the  Wars  and  rumors  of  Wars  which  have  made  up 
so  much  of  the  life  of  San  Autonio  in  the  past,  that  everything  military  is  popular 
with  its  citizens.  It  is  purposed  in  the  following  article  to  trace  the  history  of 
the  present  huge  establishment  from  its  birth  in  humble  surroundings,  thence 
through  a  checkered  career  of  weary  wanderings  to  its  final  abode  on  Govern- 
ment Hill. 

That  San  Antonio  is  a  natural  strategic  point,  has  been  recognized  by 
Aboriginals,  Spanish,  French,  Mexicans,  Texans  and  both  the  National  and  Con- 
federate Cjovernments  ;  thus  its  development  has  been  but  a  natural  growth, 
sometimes  aided,  and  sometimes  impeded,  by  local  intluences. 

From  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  Spanish  troops  had  marched  and 
counter-marched  in  the  valley  and  acro.ss  the  country,  taking  promiscuous  quar- 
ters, as  occasion  demanded  and  opportunity  offered.  The  French  traversed  the 
country  in  1714,  and  somewhat  disturbed  the  sleepy  security  of  the  Spanish 
soldiers,  but  nothing  came  of  the  raid.  What  a  country  Texas  must  have  been 
in  those  days  for  rapid  campaigning  I  Little  need  for  tents  or  nuich  baggage. 
Unlimited  forage  and  game  made  the  Quartermaster's  office,  in  the  olden  time, 
almost  a  sinecure.  Enough  Indians  to  keep  the  troops  on  the  (]iii  vivc,  an  occa- 
sional lack  of  water  or  perhaps  an  excess  from  swollen  streams,  together  with  a 
more  frequent  scarcity  of  corn,  were  the  chief  impediments  to  the  annexations  of 
their  Catholic  and  Chri.stian  Majesties  of  Spain  and  France, — Catholic  truly  in 
their  territorial  views. 


28  SAN  ANTONIO  DK  BKXAR. 

The  first  permanent  Barracks,  in  the  city,  were  built  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Military  Plaza,  in  177o,  by  Baron  de  Ripperda,  and  shortly  after  the  seculariza- 
tion of  the  Alamo,  a  company  of  volunteers  from  San  Carlos  dc  Parras  was 
quartered  in  the  building. 

After  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years  of  peace,  the  Mexican  revolutions  and 
Texas  counter-revolutions  plunged  the  province  into  a  .series  of  military  con- 
vulsions between  Repviblicans,  Royalists,  later  Dictatorships  and  Texan  patriots, 
which  culminated  in  the  Fall  of  the  Alamo  and  the  Battle  of  San  Jacinto,  a  set- 
tlement of  the  question  only  disturbed  by  two  subsequent  raids  from  across  the 
Rio  Grande. 

During  all  these  disturbances,  the  color  of  the  Military  Post  of  San  Antonio 
varied  with  the  fortunes,  of  war,  and  the  soldiers  billets  were  the  desecrated 
Missions  and  the  homes  of  afflicted  citizens.  These  expeditions  are  treated  at 
length  in  other  portions  of  the  work,  and  their  terniination  brings  us  to  the  period 
of  annexation  in  lS45-4(i,  the  occupation  of  Corpus  Christi  by  Zachary  Taylor 
and  his  advance  into  Mexico. 

These  events  led  to  action,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  authorities,  with 
a  view  to  establishing  a  permanent  military  post  in  San  Antonio.  Col.  Harney 
was  on  the  ground  as  early  as  1845;  and  in  1S46  the  City  Council  (Bryan 
Callaghan,  the  elder,  being  Mayor  ;  C.  F.  King,  pro  temp.)  offered  the  Govern- 
ment one  hundred  acres  at  San  Pedro  Springs  for  the  purpo.se  in  question..  The 
location  at  the  Springs  was  not  accepted,  and  for  obvious  reasons,  the  ground 
being  comparatively  low  and  easily  commanded  ;  so  on  March  '2d,  1S4(),  the 
Council  appointed  a  committee  to  reconsider,  and  on  January  2d,  184/,  the 
records  .say  that  the  "grant"  was  "rescinded."  In  the  meantime  soldiers  re- 
mained in  the  city  and,  after  a  temporary  sojourn  in  the  Military  Plaza,  the  Alamo 
was  occupied  as  a  Quartermaster's  Depot  by  Major  Babbitt,  this  branch  of  ihe 
service  continuing  there  until  1878,  with  the  exceptions  of  the  period  covered  by 
the  Civil  War  and  a  subsequent  removal  of  the  troops  to  Austin,  as  noted 
elsewhere. 

The  United  States  held  possession  of  this  property  pending  a  suit  between 
P.ishop  Odin  and  the  city,  to  try  title,  and  demurred  to  a  demand  of  the  latter  for 
rent.     The  suit  was  won  by  the  Bishop. 

In  islDthe  Council  again  proposed  a  site  for  barracks  on  Military  Plaza, 
this  offjr  was  rejected  on  the  score  of  insufficient  room,  and  besides,  the  grant 
was  to  be  hampered  with  conditions,  an  element  in  titles  which  the  United  States 
never  entertains.  At  this  time.  General  Worth,  commanding,  lived  at  the  James 
homestead  on  Commerce  street,  where  he  died  May  7th,  1841),  of  cholera.  He 
was  buried  near  the  Head  of  the  River,  his  body  afterwards  being  taken  to  New 
York.  He  establi.shed  a  camp  at  the  Concepcion  Mission  and  another  at  the 
Head  of  the  River  whose  Springs  are  officially  known  as  the  Worth  Springs. 
The  Headquarters  were  then  established  on  the  North  side  of  Main  Plaza.  After 
the  war  the  Arsenal  was  removed  from  a  building  near  the  Veramendi  House, 
corner  Houston  and  vSoledad  street,  to  its  presiMit  home  on  Soulli  1-lores  street, 
whicli  had  been  ]ire])aring  fi)r  it  since  is.V.I. 


NOTlvS  ON   MIMTARV   Al'I'AIRS.  29 

The  following;-  is  a  list  of  iuililar\'  coiumaudatits  from  the  first  occupation  of 
San  Antonio  by  the  National  troops  : 

Cvol.  Marne\-,  ISloC,  ;  General  Worth,  to  IS  11) — he  djang  here  of  cholera  ; 
General  Harney  ;  General  Percival  Smith,  Headquarters  at  Corpus  Christi  ; 
Albert  Sydney  Johnson,  Headquarters,  Vance  House,  San  Antonio,  to  iSoJ. 

General  Twiggs*  succeeded,  but  being  unjustly  court-martialed  on  a  trivial 
charge,  Robert  E.  L^ee  took  command,  entering  the  town  February  21st,  ISOO.  He 
had  previously  been  with  Jos.  E.  Johnston,  Colonel  commanding  at  Concho,  Lee 
being  Lieutenant  Colonel  at  the  time.  He  remained  only  a  few  months,  and 
General  Twiggs  was  again  in  command  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war;  from  him  and 
Col.  Reeves,  the  public  property  was  acquired  by  a  committee  of  citizens  consist- 
ing of  S.  A.  Maverick,  P.  N.  Luckett  and  T.  J.  Devine.  The  same  gentlemen 
served  to  restore  what  they  could  at  the  close  of  the  War  in  LS65. 

After  the  War,  the  Headquarters  were  removed  to  the  French  I'uilding  on 
Main  Plaza,  and  afterwards  to  Austin. 

General  Reynolds,  commanding  ISC)'.)  to  January,  1S72. 

General  Augur,  conunanding  January,  1S72,  to  March,  1S7-"),  troops  removed. 
General    Ord,  commanding    Ajn-il.    iSTo,   to  December,    ISSO,    Headquarters 
returned  to  San  Antonio  November,  1S7-"). 

General  Augur,  (2nd  term)  commanding  January,  18S1,  to  October,  ISSo. 
General  Mackenzie,  commanding  November,  ISS:;,  to  Decem])er,  1SS3. 
General  Stanley,  commanding  May,  1SS4,  to  date. 

Lieut.  Col.  Robt.  E.  Lee  boarded  at  the  Hostelry  (kept  by  Mrs.  Phillips, 
where  the  St.  Leonard  now  stands).  General  Twiggs  lived  near  tlie  Mi.ssion 
Garden. 

There  was  some  excitement  in  the  city  during  the  transfer  of  the  property, 
and  mustering  ot  Volunteers  and  some  talk  of  resistance,  but  everything 
was  arranged  without  blood-shed.  Without  reflecting  on  General  Twiggs  it  is 
undoubtedly  a  fact  that  his  sympathies,  at  least,  were   with  the  citizens. 

Taking  up  the  history  of  the  Headquarters  proper,  we  find  that  in  ls.")7  the 
Headquarters  were  at  the  Vance  House  ;  they  remained  there  all  through  the 
war,  being  then  under  the  Stars  and  Bars.  In  1S(;.''),  the  Federal  Headquarters 
were  established  in  the  "French  Building"  until  they  were  removed  to  Austin  in 
LSGS),  the  troops  following  in  August  and  September,  LS7o. 

The  Headquarters  returned  to  San  Antonio  in  November  of  1S7-').  and  in 
1S7S  were  established  in  a  building  erected  for  the  purpose,  by  the  Maverick 
family,  on  Houston  street  (now  the  Maverick  Hotel)  ;  and  during  the  same 
month,  the  Quartermaster's  Depot  on  the  Hill  was  completed,  the  reservation 
having  been  acquired  as  noted  in  the   foregoing  article,  beginning  with  the  first 

*There  is  an  amusing  anecdote  coiuieetfil  with  tlie  coiut-martialing  of  Gencml  Twiggs  which  has 
the  advantage  of  being  authentic.  He  had  been  ordered  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  publish  an  order  reflecting 
upon  himself.  Discipline  prevailed,  but  to  save  his  amotir  piopre,  the  Oeneral  appended  a  statement  of  his  own , 
in  order,  as  he  says,  that  "  the  antidote  may  go  with  the  poison,"  the  order  was  thus  issued,  despite  the  calmer 
suggestions  of  his  Adjutant-General,  Col.  Withers.  Twiggs  was  court-martialed,  escaped  with  a  reprimand  and 
returned  to  the  command  of  the  Department. 


30  SAN  ANTONIO  DIv  BEXAR. 

donation  by  the  citj'.  February  l(')th.  1S70,  accepted  by  the  General  Government 
in  June.  1S71. 

In  IS?;',  General  Sheridan,  W.  \V.  Belknap,  Secretary  of  War,  and 
General  Meyers  came  to  San  Antonio  on  business  connected  with  the  proper 
establishment  of  the  Headquarters  of  the  Department  of  Texas.  There  was  an 
effort  made  to  keep  them  in  Austin  or  remove  them  to  either  Fort  Worth  or 
Denison.     All  these  projects  fell  to  the  ground. 

On  May  Gth,  1875.  W.  W.  Belknap  ordered  the  work  on  the  Quartermaster's 
building  to  be  commenced,  and  the  appropriation  previously  voted  by  Congress,  in 
accordance  with  the  acceptance  of  the  land  grant  from  the  city,  was  directed  to  be 
applied  for.  The  magnificent  Post  resulting  from  this  action  has  been  already 
described. 

The  Posts  of  Texas  were  put  in  telegraphic  communication  with  each  other, 
and  the  Government  in  1876.  Owing  to  the  extension  of  railway  lines  and  other 
telegraphic  companies,  these  wires  were  disposed  of  to  the  Erie  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, December  6th,  1883. 

In  1882,  on  behalf  of  the  Belgian  Government,  Professor  Housseau  estab- 
lished a  station  on  Government  Hill  for  the  observation  of  the  Transit  of  Venus 
and  for  the  collection  of  other  astronomical  data.  The  Professor  came  in  August, 
the  Transit  taking  place  December  20th.  He  succeeded  in  getting  120  measure- 
ments, and  Professor  Hall,  the  American  observer,  obtained  204  photographs. 

The  distinguished  men  who  have  visited  and  commanded  at  the  Post  of  San 
Antonio,  are  personages  whose  lives  and  doings  are  part  of  a  larger  history  than 
that  of  this  Department.  They  have  come  and  gone,  the  blue  and  the  gray,  be- 
fore and  since  the  war.  Theirs  has  been  a  record  of  duty  performed,  be  it  grap- 
pling with  a  redskin  or  charging  at  Gettysburg.  In  the  mesquite  wilderness,  with 
none  to  note,  they  bore  themselves  as  men  and.  even  so,  under  the  apple  trees 
at  Appomattox  with  the  world  looking  on.* 

Somebody  has  said  that  the  truly  brave  man  is  he  that  will  do  in  solitude  the 
most  daring  deed  he  might  conceive  before  men.  Surely  this  is  so,  and  men  of 
this  kidney  have  made  the  Department  what  it  is.  They  have  guarded  our 
frontier  and,  aided  by  a  gallant  population,  have  settled  the  Indian  question  in 
Texas.  San  Antonio,  in  the  past,  has  seen  much  of  the  captured  tribes— villains 
of  a  most  villainou=  type— the  last  to  be  brought  in  being  the  notorious  Geronimo 
and  his  band.  They  were  en  route  for  location  in  Florida  and  were  captured  by 
Captain  Lawton  after  a  long  pursuit  in  the  mountains  of  Arizona. 

The  present  commander  of  the  Department  is  Brigadier  General  Stank^y,  a 
gentleman  who  has  endeared  himself  officially  and  personally  to  the  Slate  at 
large.  His  stay  has  been  marked  by  a  constant  exchange  of  friendly  courtesies 
with  the  people  amongst  whom  he  has  come  to  dwell.  His  name  also  brings  our 
record  to  a  close,  and  we  trust  it  may  be  long  l)efore  another  follows. 

NOTK.-Col,  Willicrs  was  tlie  A.ljiilanl  CciKral  ol  llic  ncpailiiiciil  in  iSr.jS-y-d,,,  strviiiK  <>ii  tlu-  slalT  of  tlu- 
following  remarkable  men  :  AU.ert  Sydney  Johnson,  Oeneral  Twiggs  and  that  best  beloved  of  men.  Robert  1- 
I,ee.  The  Adjutants  C.eneral  at  Headquarters,  after  the  War,  were  Colouels  Wood  and  Taylor  an.l  (Unerals 
Vincent  and  Kuggles.     At  the  present  time  Col.  Martin  is  the  incumbent. 

♦This  is  no  figure  of  speech.  Kil/.lnigh  I,ee,  as  a  Lieutenant  under  Van  Dorn.  was  repot  Ud  mortally 
wounded  in  an  Indian   finht.     The  parallel,  moreover,  applies  to  all. 


ciirkciii-:s.  31 

CHURCHES, 

Roman  Catholic. — The  strongest  body  of  Christians  in  the  city  is  that 
of  the  pioneer  faith.  The  Roman  Catholic  Chnrches  are  well  l)uilt  and  well 
attended.  Of  course,  the  old  Missions  down  the  valley  are  of  this  Cluirch.  Their 
members  are  of  many  languages,  as  will  be  seen  below.  The  city  is  the  seat  of  a 
Bishopric,  of  which  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Neraz  is  the  present  inenmijent.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  Churches  : 

Cathedral  of  vSan  Fernando,  (Si^anislij  fronting  Main  Plaza  ;  reached  ])y 
Belknap  cars. 

St.  Joseph's,  (German )  north  side  of  Hast  Commerce   street;  Belknap  cars. 

vSt.  Mary's,  (Knglish)  St.  Mary's  street. 

St.  Michael's,  (Polish)  :;•_'(»  South  Street. 

Ursaline  Convent  Chapel,  corner  Augusta  and  Con\ent  streets. 

There  is  also  a  Chapel  at  Iht  Santa  Rosa  Hospital.  This  Hospital  is  one 
of  the  most  important  and  beneficent  of  the  fruits  of  Christianity  in  the  town. 
The  other  Catholic  institutions  are  an  Orphanage,  a  College  for  males,  the  Ursu- 
line  Conventual  School  for  girls,  and  many  parochial  schools. 

Episcopalian. — San  Antonio  is  the  seat  of  the  Missionary  Bishopric  of 
Western  Texas,  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Johnston  at  present  presiding  over  the  see.  The 
Churches  are  : 

St.  Mark  s,  north  side  Travis  Square,  Rev.  W.  R.  Richardson,  Dean. 

St.  John's,  northeast  corner  North  Cherry  and  Puirnet  streets. 

St.  lyuke's,  northeast  corner  Zavalla  and  North  Leona  streets. 

St.  Paul's,  south  side  GraN'son  street,  on  Government  Hill. 

One  of  the  results  of  Episcopalian  effort  is  St.  Mary's  Hall,  a  high-class 
school  for  girls. 

Presbyterian. — First  Presbyterian  Church,  corner  of  Houston  and 
North  P'lores  streets  ;  reached  by  Belknap  cars,  San  Pedro  and  Flores  Street 
lines. 

Madison  Square  Church,  reached  by  Belknap  cars,  San  Pedro  and  P'lores 
Street  lines. 

Cuml)erland  Presbxterian  Church,  ■")-!4  Soledad  street. 

P'ourth  Ward  Presbyterian  Sunda\-  School,  A'-W)  South  Presa  street. 

Baptist. — First  Baptist  Church,  Travis  Scjuare. 

Alamo  Baptist  Church,  northeast  corner  Nacogdoches  and  Crockett  streets. 

Aransas  Pass  Mission,  corner  South  P'lores  and  Herfif  streets. 

International  Mission,  corner  P'rio  and  Hidalgo  streets. 

Sunset  Mission,  corner  Burleson  and  Cherrv  streets. 


32  SAN  ANTONIO  DIv  BKXAR. 

Methodist. — Methodist  P^piscopal  Church  South,  Travis  Square. 

Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  southwest  corner  Avenue  C.  and  Pecan 
street. 

Methodist  Ivpiscopal,  south  side  Crosby  street. 

German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  'I'M)  Villita  Street. 

Mexican  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  southwest  corner  Pecan  and  San 
Fernando  streets. 

Tenth  Street  Methodist  Church,  .south  side  Tenth  vStreet. 

Jewish.— Temple  Beth-I{l,  Travis  Square,  a  Synagogue  the  place  of 
worship  of  the  influential  Hebrew  citizens.      Rev.  M.  P.  Jacobson,  Rabbi. 

The  City  Hospital. — In  the  we.stern  part  of  the  city.  It  may  be,  not 
inaptly,  mentioned  here,  as  an  evidence  of  the  practical  religion  of  the  city 
Government. 

Many  other  denominations  are  represented,  but  this  list  will  suffice  for  the 
spiritual  needs  of  the  majority  of  visitors.  It  should  be  mentioned,  however, 
that  the  colored  people  have  many  places  of  worship — Catholic,  Methodist  and 
Baptist. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Schools.— Education  is  well  cared  for  in  San  Antonio.  There  are  many 
private  institutions  of  great  efficiency,  for  both  sexes,  and  the  denominational 
establishments  have  been  already  noticed. 

The  Public  Schools  are  the  pride  of  the  city.  There  are  twelve  school 
buildings,  all  excellent,  and  under  Superintendent  Smith.  There  are  about 
seventy-five  teachers  of  trained  ability  in  charge  of  a  scholastic  population  largely 
in  excess  of  that  of  any  other  city  in  the  State. 

The  Central  Grammar  and  High  School  is  situated  on  Acequia  street  ; 
Professor  Schoch,  Principal.  It  may  be  reached  by  the  Belknap  cars,  San  Pedro 
Ime.  There  are,  besides,  eight  Ward  Schools  for  whites,  and  three  for  the  colored 
people.  The  colored  people  having,  perhaps,  most  accommodation  in  proportion 
to  population,  than  the  whites,  were  not  the  latter  supplemented  by  the  denom- 
inational and  ])rivate  effort  l)efore  referred  to. 

The  German-English  School  should  be  mentioned,  as  being  an  old  established 
high-class  day  school,  and  somewhat  of  a  land  mark.  It  is  situated  on  South 
Alamo  .street,  and  may  ])e  reached  by  the  Belknap  line  of  street  cars. 

Eet  us  glance  at  the  history  of  Public  iCducation  in  San  Antonio  since  the 
good  Mission  Fathers  gave  up  their  labor  of  love  and  patriotism. 

The  first  mention  of  an  American  Sch(M)l  in  Texas  is  in  a  document 
in  the  Bexar  County  Records,  dated  July  -'(th,  IS'is,  referring  to  the  "McClure" 
School.  This  was  under  Mexican  rule,  and  was  probably  an  institution  started 
f(jr  the  benefit  of  the  growing  Au-lo-Saxon  colony.  About  tliis  time  there 
exi.sted,  also,  a  Spanish  Public  vSchool.  on  the  ea.st  line  of  the  Military  Pla/a,  near 
the  Cathedral.     After  this,   and  until   is;;'.>,  education  in  San  Antonio  received 


KDUCATIOXAL  H;^ 

little  attention.  In  that  year  the  corporation  evidently  saw  the  necessity  of  a 
system  of  Public  Education,  and  the  question  aroused  general  interest,  for  we  find 
that  on  February  14th,  1889,  J.  H.  Winchell  proposed  to  the  City  Council  to  open 
a  public  school  on  the  first  of  March  ensuing,  and  offers  to  teach  all  that  may 
enter  therein,  the  English  language,  together  with  penmanship  and  arithmetic, 
provided  the  number  shall  not  exceed  thirty  pupils.  All  this  for  the  .sum  of  $n<K) 
per  annum,  payable  quarterly  or  monthly,  as  the  honorable  body  may  think 
proper. 

His  .system  of  instruction,  the  good  man  goes  on  to  say,  has  met  with 
general  approbation,  as  heretofore  pursued  by  him,  but  he  admits  that  it  is 
susceptible  of  much  improvement,  which  he  is  willing  to  effect,  providing  suffi- 
cient emoluments  be  given  him,  and  begs  a  committee  of  three  to  examine  fully 
into  the  merits  of  his  system  and  to  report  thereon. 

Again  this  subject  of  education  comes  up  on  June  '2d,  1N41,  when  P.  L. 
Buquor  (a  well  known  old  City  Official)  i)resented  a  memorial  urging  the  utility 
of  opening  a  Public  School,  and  stating  that  he  is  willing  to  undertake  to  do  so 
if  sufficient  encouragement  be  given  him  l)y  the  Council.  A  connnittee  was 
thereupon  appointed,  and  it  reported  substantially  as  follows  on  June  29th, 
1  S  14  : 

The  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  law  for  incorporating  the  city,  passed 
December  14th,  1887,  makes  it  obligatory  upon  the  Council  to  encourage  by  every 
means  in  their  power  the  opening  of  a  public  school,  and  also  to  have  a  Court 
House  and  Jail,  and  the  report  goes  on  to  recommend  a  plan  to  accompli.sh  these 
things,  and  also  to  repair  the  old  Court  House,  (this  is  prior  to  the  '  Bat  Cave  " ) 
and  fit  it  up  in  such  a  manner  as  to  serve  for  both  Court  House  and  School 
House.  Certain  lots  were  to  be  appropriated  to  this  object,  for  Section  S  of  the 
Charter  .set  aside  certain  lots  for  this  purpose  and  for  the  endowment  of  a  Public 
School.  This  was  recommended  to  be  done  as  soon  as  the  lots  would  fetch  a 
reasonable  price.  For  some  rea.son  the  land  was  not  ordered  to  be  sold  until 
August  24th,  1849.  See  Article  "The  River."  Out  of  the  proceeds  of  this 
sale  and  in  accordance  with  the  recommendation,  the  "  Bat  Cave  "  was  built. 

J.  N.  Devine,  in  a  long  address  on  January  l')th,  1849,  urged  the  questions 
of  education,  peace,  law  and  order  very  forcibly  upon  the  people.  His  action 
produced  the  effect  of  a  "Sunday  Closing"  ordinance.  April  5th,  1849,  for  the 
closing  of  Bar  Rooms.  Workshops,  etc.,  after  9  o'clock  A.  M  ,  on  Sunday.  He 
also  closed  the  Fandangoes  for  awhile.  We  mention  these  things  to  show  that  a 
spirit  of  reform  was  abroad,  and  from  this  epoch  San  Antonio  has  been  ever 
watchful  and  generous  in  the  matter  of  Public  Education.  Indeed,  at  this  time 
the  tide  set  in  which  changed  San  Antonio  from  a  blood-stained  border  town  to  a 
progressive  and  prosperous  modern  city.  And  to-day  there  is  an  inherited 
tradition  of  liberality  toward  Public  vSchools. 

International  Fair  Grounds  and  Buildings.— These  are  .situated 
about  three  miles  south  of  the  city  in  a  fine  park  on  the  banks  of  the  San  An- 
tonio river  and  are  used  for  an  annual  fair  and  other  gatherings.  The  buildings 
are  handsome  and  spacious  and  among  other  attractions  is  a  good  race  course. 


34  SAN  ANTONIO  DK  BEXAR. 

The  grounds  are  reached  by  the  Aransas  Pass  railway  with  a  depot  in  the 
adjacent  park,  and  from  town  direct  by  the  McCrillis  electric  cars. 

The  president  of  the  association  is  Mr.  A.  C.  Schryver,  whose  office  is  on 
Commerce  street  near  the  bridge.  The  grounds  were  established  in  the  fall  of 
18SS  and  the  military  encampment  of  the  state  militia  was  held  here  in  IS'.IO. 

Riverside  Park.— A  beautiful  sylvan  pleasure  ground,  with  lovely 
drives  and  groves  of  giant  pecan  trees,  whose  fruit  is  the  delicious  Texas  nut  of 
that  name. 

It  is  the  very  place  of  all  others  for  pic-nics,  with  the  river,  the  Missions  San 
Jose  and  Concepcion  adjacent,  and  the  Exposition  Park  and  buildings  across  the 
fence.  There  is  a  fine  pavilion  in  the  grounds  and  arrangements  for  refreshments. 
It  is  reached  by  the  San  Antonio  &  Aransas  Pass  railway  when  there  is  a  crowd, 
and  always  from  town  direct  by  the  McCrillis  system  of  electric  cars. 

San  Pedro  Park.— A  city  park  about  a  mile  from  the  center  of  the 
town.  Here  are  the  lovely  San  Pedro  Springs  with  stretches  of  green-sward  and 
groves  of  stately  live  oaks,  a  southern  evergreen  that  always  makes  us  seem  a 
summering.  Pecan  trees  and  shrubbery  abound.  Refreshments  may  be  had,  and 
there  is  a  collection  of  birds  and  animals  well  worth  a  visit.  It  may  be  reached 
by  Belknap  System  Cars.  This  park  is  a  remnant  of  the  former  magnificent  do- 
main of  the  city.  In  olden  times  it  was  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Indians,  and  an- 
other fact  of  interest  connected  with  the  locality  is,  that  the  Canary  Island  set- 
tlers dwelt  there  for  a  short  time  previous  to  their  removal  to  San  Fernando. 
Vide  Dr.  Cupples'  reminiscences. 

Opera  House.— Situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  Alamo  plaza,  fronting 
the  garden  and  almost  opposite  the  Menger  hotel.  It  is  a  veritable  -'Bijou" 
and  during  the  season.  Opera  and  the  legitimate,  follow  each  other  unceasingly. 
The  building  is  the  home  of  the  San  Antonio  Club,  tasteful  in  all  things.  This 
admirable  in.stitution  is  treated  of  at  length  elsewhere. 

Turner  Hall. — A  fine  hall  for  public  meetings;  concerts  and  other  at- 
tractions liohl  the  ])()ards  throughout  the  sea.son. 

Casino  Hall. — An  elegant  room  attached  to  the  Casino  club.  The  home 
of  a  famous  German  association.  This  hall  is  frequently  used  for  concerts  and, 
nearly  always,  for  the  larger  select  dances  and  germans  that  take  place  during 
the  winter.  It  has  pleasant  parlors,  is  prettily  decorated,  and  located  in  a  re- 
tired bend  of  the  river  in  the  heart  of  the  city. 

Convention  Hall.— A  hall  erected  on  Flores  and  Houston  streets  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  vState  Democratic  Convention  of  IS'.IO.  There  are 
otlicr  halls  in  the  city,  l)Ut  these  are  all  that  will  interest  the  tourist. 

Newspapers. — The  San  Antonio  Daily  Express  (morning)  is  the  lead- 
ing journal  of  the  city,  as  of  Western  Texas.  It  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
its  section,  and,  while  democratic  in  politics,  it  is  blessed  with  a  large  share  of 
refreshing   independence  and   the  brightest  staff  of  ncwspajK-r  men    in  the  state. 


NlCWSrAri'RS.    ICTC.  :i') 

Its  (luarlcrs  are  on  Coinincrce  street,  and  with    its  new   press,  stereotyping  appar- 
atus  and   airy    olTiccs,  Die   tout  ensenib/f  is  a   credit  to  journalism   anywliere. 

The  San  Antonio  Daily  Times  (evening)  is  a  sturdy  democratic  sheet.  It 
claims  to  be  the  heir  of  the  San  Antonio  Daily  Herald  (the  earliest  Texan  daily) 
and  is  a  i>ushin,i;-  i)ai)er  convinced  of  the  great  destiny  of  its  city,  and  untiring  in 
furthering;  its  progress. 

The  San  Antonio  Daily  l^ight,  (evening)  Rc]nil)lican.  "The  only 
Republican  daily  of  the  State,"  a  newsy  and  ably  edited  journal.  It  makes  local 
items  a  specialty,  and  is  energetic  in  promulgating  its  principles  according  to  the 
Light  that  is  in  it. 

The  Express  has  a  good  "semi- weekly"  edition,  and  the  Times  a  weekyone. 

The  Freie  Presse  fur  Texas  is  also  published  here  with  a  daily  and  weekly 
edition.      It  is  a  very  inlluential  German  paper. 

El  Heraldo  is  a  Spanish  weekly  for  those  citizens  who  prefer  the  language. 

The  Texas  Stockman  is  what  its  name  indicates,  and  circulates  all  over  the 
State,  being  the  recognized  medium  of  the  enormous  stock  indu.stry  of  Western 
Texas. 

There  are  other  minor  publications,  and  a  Monthly  Magazine,  the  Texas 
Field,  devoted  to  sport. 

Stock  Yards  — On  South  Flores  street  are  many  lots  given  up  to  the 
Horse  and  Mule  trade.  Here  may  be  .seen  the  true  and  only  Cowboy,  and  with 
little  difhculty  in  the  matter  of  introductions,  the  tourist  may  make  the 
acquaintance  of  stockmen  whose  flocks  and  herds  brow.se  upon  a  thousand  hills. 
Here,  too,  may  be  met  many  a  queer  border  type  as  may  be  noted  in  the 
accompanying  illustrations  taken  from  life. 

City  Additions. — The  suburban  Additions  to  the  town  are  numerous, 
and  enormous  sums  have  been  spent  in  land,  Electric  Street  Railways  and 
Landscape  Gardening  for  their  development.  The  most  important  are  the  West 
End,  the  Alamo  Heights,  the  Lake  View,  East  End,  Beacon  Hill,  and  vSouthern 
Heights.  It  would  be  invidious  to  compare  them.  The  visitor  will  find  ample 
facilities  to  visit  them  all. 

Artesian  Wells.— The  finest  Artesian  Well  of  the  State  is  the  natural 
one  formed  b\-  the  Springs  of  the  Head  of  the  San  Antonio  River.  This  water 
comes  from  an  enormous  depth,  being  of  an  even  temperature  of  70°  Fahr.  the 
year  round.  It  affords  the  purest  possible  drinking  water,  and  is  San  Antonio's 
chief  blessing.  It  is  evident  that  there  are  several  water-bearing  strata,  all  arte- 
sian and  of  considerable  volume,  in  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Brackenridge  is 
having  a  well  bored  which  is  already  •i-lOO  feet  deep,  but  artesian  water  has  not 
yet  been  struck  ;   the  boring  however  will  continue  to  the  depth  of  .'5(100  feet. 

The  Kampmann  well,  sunk  on  the  Salado  to  a  depth  of  hi")  feet,  yields  a 
strong  sulphur  water,  used  for  medical  purposes. 

The  Crystal  Ice  Factory  has  a  well  of  pure  water  at  a  different  depth,  flowing 
several  hundred  thousand  gallons  per  diem. 


36  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

The  Scholz  well,  on  the  River  bank,  flows  water  slightly  brackish,  and  by 
a  separate  pipe  the  same  well  supplies  his  establishment  with  gas. 

At  West  End  clear  Artesian  water  was  reached  at  a  depth  of  only  250  feet  in 
one  case,  and  259  in  another.  These  wells  have  their  ov^erflow  into  the  artificial 
lake  of  that  suburb.  In  boring  most  of  these  wells,  oil  and  gas  were  encountered, 
but  the  mo.st  notable  instance  of  this  is  that  of  Mr.  G.  Dullnig,  near  the  Salado. 
It  has  a  flow  of  oil  which  is  marketed.  The  apparatus  on  the  ground  is 
extensive  and  altogether  this  subject  is  worthy  the  attention  of  visitors  with 
capital  to  invest. 

Real  Estate. — There  are  many  reliable  and  old  established  Real  Estate 
firms  in  the  city.  The  stranger  should  consult  only  such,  and  if  purchasing,  it  is 
well  to  get  an  abstract  of  title;  this  is  easily  obtained. 

Amongst  all  the  States,  Texas  is  peculiar  in  her  land  matters,  and  differs  in 
many  things,  even  from  her  ancient  Spanish  sisters.  The  United  States  owns  no 
public  lands  within  her  borders,  save  such  small  tracts  and  parcels  as  may  have 
been  ceded  for  Military  Posts,  Cemeteries,  or  Public  Buildings  for  Federal 
purposes.  The  old  Spanish  vara  (33^  inches)  is  still  a  legal  land  measure, 
though,  curiously  enough,  the  Mexicans  have  long  since  discarded  its  use  for  that 
of  the  metre.  We  vSpeak,  too,  of  a  "league,"  of  a  "  labor,"  or  of  a  "  suerte  " 
of  land.  The  titles  to  land  in  Texas  are  very  variously  derived  and  their  origin 
frequently  curious.  We  have  grants  from  the  Kings  of  Spain,*  grants  to  colonists 
and  individuals  by  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  and  similar  concessions  by  the 
Republic  of  Texas.  Then  there  are  Headrights,  and  Locations  on  Scrip,  issued  to 
supply  the  necessities  of  the  infant  State,  or  to  reward  veterans.     Later  we  have 

*  Yoakum,  who  has  done  more  for  Texas  History  than  any  other  man  has  or  now  can,  relates  an  interest- 
ing chapter  on  Land  Titles  in  Texas.     The  following  is  an  interesting  excerpt.  Vol.  II,  pp.  2HI  <•/  srq.: 

"The  first  grants  of  the  Spanish  government  in  Texas  of  which  we  have  any  record,  are  those  of  the  three 
Missions  of  Concepcion,  San  Juan,  and  La  Kspada.  The  grants  for  the  Missions  of  Valero  and  San  Jose  were 
doubtless  made  earlier,  and  probably  some  individual  grants,  but  we  know  of  none  now  in  existence.  The  three 
first-named  Missions  were  located  in  the  first  instance  on  the  St.  Mark;  but  such  was  the  difficulty  of  procuring 
water  for  irrigation,  'so  necessary  to  the  support  of  the  people  who  were  to  be  indoctrinated,'  that  on  the  21)th 
of  October,  l"2il,  the  viceroy  of  Mexico,  Casa  Fuerte.  commissioned  the  Governor  of  Texas,  the  ex-guardian  of  the 
apostolic  college  of  Queretaro,  and  the  president  of  the  Texan  Missions,  to  make  a  new  settlement  or  location. 
After  some  search,  they  made  their  selections  of  three  places — two  on  the  San  Antonio  river,  and  one  on  the  "Me- 
dina," below  the  junction  of  the  two  streams.  They  next  proceeded  to  the  neighboring  tribes  of  Indians,  to 
whom  'they  spoke,  and  explained  the  holy  and  benevolent  purpose  of  their  in.stitution;  and  three  tribes,  among 
others  in  the  vicinity,  viz.,  the  Paeans,  the  I'aja/alx,  and  the  Pitalacs.  agreed  to  settle  the  three  places  selected, 
and  to  submit  to  doctrine.'  The  commissioners,  having  completed  their  labors,  made  a  report  to  the  \nceroy- 
and  petitioned  him  to  make  the  necessary  decrees.  The  viceroy  laid  the  matter  before  Ribera,  former  inspector 
of  the />>v.v/</;'o.?  of  New  Spain  for  his  opinion.  The  ex-inspector  reported  on  the  2'2d  of  .September,  1730.  con- 
curring with  the  report  of  the  commissioners,  except  in  regard  to  the  location  for  the  lower  Mission  'on  the 
Medina  river,  at  thirty  leagues'  distance  from  the  /'/■rstiiios  (San  Antonio  and  I,a  liahial,  where  it  may  be  liable 

to  attacks  from  the  Apaches,  who  on  many  occasions  appear  in   a  hostile   manner  in   that    territory   This 

danger  would  not  exist  if  the  said  Mission  were  located  in  the  same  vicinity  with  the  other  two.' 

The  viceroy,  in  conformity  with  thisopinion,  on  the 'id  of  October,  1730,  decreed  that  the  captain  of  the 
royal  presidio  of  San  Antonio,  should  issue  a  decree  that  the  three  Missions  should  be  located  as  recommended 
using  his  judgment  as  to  the  plan  of  locating  the  lower  Mission.  He  further  ordered  that  each  Mission  so  to 
be  located  'V)e  furnished  with  three  soldiers  for  the  term  of  two  years,  this  time  being  considered  ueccs-sarj-  for 
the  instruction  of  the  Indians  in  tillage,  and  at  the  expiration  of  this  time  one  soldier  shall  remain  in  each  Mis. 
sion,  the  other  two  returning  to  their  corps.' 

On  the  l.')th  of  IJecember,  17:{0,  the  captain  of  the  presidio  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  in  pursuance  of  this 
order  of  the  viceroy,  remitted  the  same  to  Don  C.abriel  Costales,  captain  of  the  presidio  of  La  Ealiia  del  Espiritu 
.9(?;//o,  with  orders  to  execute  it,  he  being  delegated  as  judge  for  that  purpose,  in  the  absence  of  any  public  or 
royal  notary.  In  making  a  return  of  his  proceedings,  Captain  Costales  says:  'A  dispatch  was  presented  to  me 
from  the  most  excellent  viceroy,  through  the  ^aptain  of  the  royal  presidio  of  San  Antonio,  which  I  kissed   and 


RICAL   I'STATI-:.  37 

the  vState  i;rantin<;-  sections  to  Railway,  Canal  and  Irrigation  Companies,  and 
issuing-  scrip  to  Confederate  veterans.  The  State  has  still  a  vast  domain  subject 
to  homestead  entry,  and  the  University  and  School  land  endowments  are  princely. 
The  State  Capitol,  at  Austin,  was  built  ]y\  disposing  of  ;-),(K)0,()00  acres  of  public 
lands  to  a  Chicago  syndicate.  Hence,  it  will  be  seen  that  Real  Estate  in  Texas 
is  a  large  question. 

To  be  seized  of  a  piece  of  property  is  an  old  linglish  law  phrase,  and  means 
to  own  it  :  The  following  curious  ceremony  of  taking  possession  smacks  strongly 
of  that  old-time  expression,  and  seems  to  lend  point  to  the  poor  joke  of  William 
the    Contiueror    who,    falling   to   the    ground    upon    stepping    from  his    boat    at 

Hastings,  cpiieted  the  ill-omened  fears  of  his  followers  by  remarking  that  he  was 
only  taking  "  seizin'  "  of  the  land. 

Here  is  the  record:  "I  took  said  .Simon  de  Arocha  and  proceeded  with 
him  over  the  said  property,  and  he  pulled  weeds  and  threw  rocks  and  made  other 
necessary  demonstrations  in  actual  possession,  calling  upon  the  adjoining  property 
holders  to  show  cause  why  he  should  not  be  put  in  possession."      April  21 ,  1778. 

Other  induction  ceremonies  refer  to  the  grantee  as  "  throwing  stones  to  the 
four  winds  of  Heaven,"  "  driving  .stakes  "  and  performing  such  like  ceremonies. 

The  original  City  Grant  from  the  King  of  Spain  having  been  lost  in  the 
troublous  revolutionary  days,  the  city  found  it  advisable  to  sue  out  its  title,  con- 
sequently, on  February  26th,  1845,  an  agreement  was  entered  into  with  T.  J. 
Devine  to  prosecute  certain  trespassers  upon  the  city  domain.  The  consideration 
the  attorney  was  to  receive,  was  one-eighth  of  the  assessed  value  ol  land  recov- 
ered and  SlOO  per  year  in  addition  thereto  for  no  longer  a  period  than  five  years. 
or  to  receive  nothing  if  he  did  not  prosecute  successfully.  Then  followed  the 
celebrated  suit  of  the  City  versus  Nat  Lewis,  senior,  in  which  the  City  sues  Nat 
Lewis  and  others  for  certain  lands  specified  to  be  wdthin  the  confines  of  the 
Original    Royal    Grant    to    the    people    and    inhabitants    of  the    town  of    "San 

placed  on  my  head,  a.s  a  message  from  my  king  and  natural  lord,  which  with  blind  obedience  I  obey,  and  am 
ready  to  execute  whatever  it  commands.'  I'pou  this  return,  the  captain  of  the  presidio  of  San  Antonio,  on  the 
12th  of  January,  1731,  decreed  the  establishment  of  the  Missions  named.  All  these  formalities  being  attended  to, 
and  the  acts  of  each  parly  written  down,  and  attested  by  as.sisting  witnesses,  the  captain  of  San  Antonio  pro- 
ceeded on  the  oth  of  March,  1731,  to  the  first  Mission-ground,  called  Our  Lady  of  the  Concepcion  de  Acufia, 
accompanied  by  several  of  the  officers  of  the  presidio,  and  Father  Bergara,  and  seized  the  hand  of  the  captain  of 
the  tribe,  in  the  name  of  all  the  other  Indians  who  had  attached  themselves  to  said  Mission,  and  led  him  about 
over  the  locality,  and  caused  him  to  pull  up  weeds,  throw  stones,  and  perform  all  theother  acts  of  real  possession, 
that  by  virtue  thereof  they  might  not  be  dispossessed  without  being  first  heard  and  defended  by  Father  Hergara, 
presidentof  the  Texas  Missions,  or  such  other  of  the  clergy  as  might  have  administration  over  them.  After 
declaring  the  bounds  of  the  Mi.ssion,  there  was  attached  to  it  pa.sture-lands,  watering-places,  irrigating  privileges, 
uses,  and  services,  and  the  further  right,  in  planting  time,  to  drive  their  stock  out  west  for  pa.stnre,  so  as  not  to 
prejudice  the  crops.  The  act  of  possession  concluded  by  notifying  the  Indians,  through  an  interpreter,  what 
they  .should  do  in  advancement  of  Christian  doctrine,  and  in  avoidance  of  crime. 

At  the  same  time.  Captain  Perez  proceeded  to  put  other  tribes  in  pos.session  of  the  Mission-grounds  of  Smr 
Francisco  de  la  Espada,  and  San  Juan,  situated  below,  on  the  San  Antonio  river;  the  same  formality  being 
observed  m  each  case.  The  record  of  the  titles  (which,  as  will  be  seen,  is  a  simple  narrative  of  the  action  of  each 
party)  was  then  filed  in  the  archives  of  San  Fernando  de  Bexar,  and  a  certified  copy  furnished  to  each  Mission. 
It  will  be  observed,  in  the  foregoing  abstract  of  the  transfer,  that  the  title  was  assumed  to  be  in  the  kingof  Spain, 
and  that  the  transfer  was  to  the  Indians,  and  not  to  the  priests,  who,  by  their  vows,  could  own  no  worldly  estate. 

In  regard  to  the  Mission-lands  of  San  Jose  de  Aguayo,  they  were  claimed  by  Don  Domingo  Castelo,  one  of 
the  king's  ensigns,  for  his  services  at  the  presidio  of  San  Saba;  but,  after  a  protracted  law.suit  between  him  and 
the  Mi.ssion,  the  title  was  vested  in  the  Indians  of  the  Mission,  on  the  l>tth  of  November,  ITtili,  by  purcha.se,  for 
one  hundred  and  fiftv  dollars." 


38 


SAN  ANTONIO  DK  BEXAR. 


Fernando"  (San  Antonio).  The  Lower  Courts  first  decided  and  established  the 
boundaries  of  the  Original  Grant  to  the  city  (John  James,  Sr.,  surveying  the  same)* 

and  gave  judgment  for  the  city.  The  Supreme  Court  affirmed  the  decision,  and 
upon  this  rests  the  title  to  all  lands  situated  within  the  "  Town  Tract,"  as  it  is 
now  called.      Vide  :     Tex.  Rep.  \'ol.  VII,  pp.  2.S.S,  et  seq. 

Passing  from  the  old-time  reflections  and  recollections  the  reader's  attention 
is  invited  to  the  following  remarkable  table  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  the 
daily  press.  It  shows  the  comparative  sales  during  the  first  six  months  of  the 
years  1889  and  1890: 


Janixary,  18Si).  . 
January.  ISitO.  . 
February,  1889. 
February,  1890. 
March,  1889  .  . 
March,  1890  .  . 
April,  1889.  .  . 
April,  1890  .  . 
May,  1889  . 
May,  1890  .  .  . 
June,  1889  .    .    . 


I  171.045 

574,889 

160,315 

897,559 

191.822 

704.247 

29;j,441 

132,134 

319,438 

1.489,692 

183,198 

June,  1890 1,004  502 


'^^W  ^''' 


*  October   'Jit,    ISJll.     Tlit-  Council   hm)1\ 
copy  of   tlic  OriKiual  (".rant  to  the  Corponitioi 


U>    :isk    till-    fiiilc.l 
r   town   oT  ,Srin    I'liii 


Mini-tti 
in    llic  !•: 


Miuhid   to   secure 
ice   of  Texas  or  Ni 


PUBLIC   lU'ILDIXCivS.  39 

Public  Building's. — The  Alamo  churcli,  amply  treated  elsewhere.  The 
Federal  Building  affording  accommodation  for  the  Federal  Court  and  Postoffice 
(for  dates  see  calendar)  was  designed  by  M.  E.  Bell,  of  Chicago,  who  was  super- 
vising architect  at  Washington  under  President  Arthur's  administration.  The 
original  plan  was  modified,  in  the  direction  of  economy,  by  W.  A.  Freret,  of 
New  Orleans,  during  President  Cleveland's  term.  Mr.  Gordon  of  this  city  being 
appointed  architect  in  charge,  again  re-arranged  the  building  in  its  present  form. 
Under  his  direction,  the  structure  grew  to  be  the  beautiful  mediaeval  dream  that  it 
is.  Its  details  are  worth}'  of  careful  study.  The  style  may  be  called  Richard- 
sonian  Romanesque  with  a  touch  reminding  one  of  Lombardy  and  the  South  of 
France.  Notice  the  tower  and  the  bold  angle  turret — the  arcades  whose  pro- 
portions are  so  cleverly  relieved  by  the  flight  of  approaching  steps — the  beautiful 
mass  of  the  building,  and  the  construction  and  outline  of  the  tile  roof. 

The  City  Hall,  a  Renaissance  Building  designed  l)y  Mr.  O.  Kramer,  and 
njw  nearing  completion  on  Military  Plaza.  Its  location  is  the  best  possible  one, 
and  the  effect  of  the  four  white  facades  of  native  lime-stone  relieved  by  pink 
granite  columns,  is  extremely  fine. 

The  County  Jail  is  a  massive  and  serviceable  building  designed  by  Mr.  A. 
Giles. 

The  County  Court  House  on  Soledad  street  by  the  same  gentleman  completes 
the  list  of  public  buildings. 

rhillipiues.     What  came  of  this  we  are  unable  to  say.     The  field  notes  of  the  town  tract  are  as  follows  ; 

r.  I  tp-  28,  2q.  I  REPUBLIC  OH  TEXAS,— COUNTY  ok  bexak. 

COUNTY    SURVEYOR'S    RECORDS. 

BEXAR  COUNTY.  )  Field  Notes  of  the  survey  of  the  lands  claimed   by  the  Corporation 

of  the  City  of  San  Antonio,  made  under  an  order  of  the  District  Court  of  Bexar  County,  at  the  Sept.  term,  1845. 

Beginning  at  an  old  stone  dam  on  the  Concepcion  ditch  from  the  southeast  corner  of  which  a  pecan  .SO  in. 
in  diameter  bears  south  27°  west,  7)4  varas,  this  place  being  pointed  out  to  me  as  the  presita  of  the  Concepcion 
ditch,  by  Rafael  Herrera  and  Manuel  Cadena. 

Thence  north  8S°  east,  ()800  varas  to  a  pecan  tree  10  iu.  in  diameter,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Salado  creek, 
marked  x  from  which  a  pecan  9  in.  in  diameter  bears  south   70-   west,  ';,  vara;   a   pecan  18  in.  diameter  bears 

north  58i/(°,  west  Ifi':^  varas.  This  point  w.is  shown  to  me  as  the  Pas'j  Hondo  on  Salado,  by  Rafael  Herrera  and 
Manuel  Cadena. 

Thence  north  3554°  west,  3790  varas  to  a  stake  set  on  the  top  of  a  hill  from  which  a  mesquite  S  in.  in 
diameter  bears  north  23%°  west,  42J^  varas,  a  mesquite  3  in.  diameter,  bears  north  Sl^  west  4|4  varas,  this  be- 
ing pointed  out  to  me  as  the  Lomita  Devisidera,  by  Manuel  Cadena. 

Thence  north  '2S%°  west,  4,700  varas  to  a  mound  of  rock,  shown  by  Pedro  Flores  and  others  as  one  of  the 
corners  of  this  tract.  Thence  north  52~;°  west,  10,000  varas  to  a  pile  of  rocks  round  the  roots  of  a  live  oak  tree, 
now  nearly  destroyed  by  fire,  from  which  a  live  oak  15"  diameter  bears  south  75°  east,  9  varas,  a  live  oak  9"  diam- 
eter bears  south  16;/i°  east,  7  varas.  This  point  is  between  the  Almas  {sic)  and  Norillo  creeks,  and  was  shown  to 
me  by  Manuel  Cadena  as  one  of  the  corners  of  this  survey.  Thence  south  'JS^yi°  west,  11,775  varas  to  a  stake  set 
on  the  east  bank  of  a  small  creek  at  a  water  hole  from  which  a  hackberry  on  west  side  of  the  creek  liears  south 
85°  west,  50  varas,  a  mesquite2in.  diameter,  bears  south  3(5 '/i°  west,  VIM  varas,  this  point  being  shown  to  me  by  Do- 
mingo Bustillo,  Delgado  and  others  as  one  of  the  corners  of  this  survey,  called  the  real  of  San  Nicolas,  or  Tomas 
Hernandez.  Thence  south  12,910  varas  to  a  stake  set  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Leon  creek,  at  the  present  crossing 
of  the  road  leading  from  San  Antonio  to  Jetfs  rancho,  from  which  a  musqnite  (.«/Vi  l(i  inches  diameter,  bears 
north  9°  east,  S3  varas,  a  musquite  3  inches  diameter,  bears  .south  (i4°  east,  :i5  varas.  This  jKjint  shown  to  me  by 
Manuel  de  la  Gar/.a  and  Delgado  as  the  pass  of  the  acalitos  and  one  of  the  corners  of  this  sur\-ey.  Thence 
south  2S°  east,  2400  varas  to  a  cottonwood  tree  12  in.  diameter  in  the  bed  of  the  I.eon  creek,  from  which  a  pecan 
(j  in.  diameter  bears  south  57°  east,  5  varas,  a  pecan  G  in.  diameter  bears  south  14'^°  west,  S-,'.j  varas.  This 
point  was  shown  to  me  by  Pedro  Flores  and  others  as  the  L'Aguila,  {sic)  one  of  the  corners  of  this  survey. 
Thence  north  37%  °  east,  12,610  varas  to  a  pass  on  the  San  Pedro  creek,  shown  to  me  as  the  Paso  Nogalitos  by 
Pedro  Flores  and  others  as  one  of  the  corners  of  this  survey.  Thence  .south  SS'4  °  east,  2655  %-aras  to  a  stone 
dam,  the  place  of  beginning,  including  within  its  limits  thirty-eight  thousand  acres  of  land. 

This  survey  was  commenced  on  the  1st  and  ended  on  the  Uth  day  of  Februarj-,  1S4»!.  Nathaniel  Melton 
and  James  Cocks,  chainmen,  who  were  duly  sworn.     Bearings  marked    .^. 

Then  follows  John  James'  sworn  certificate  of  Survey.  This  survey  does  not  actually  close,  and  was  after- 
wards corrected  as  to  course  and  distance  by  f.iraud.  The  natural  marks,  however,  here  described  are  the 
basis  for  establishing  the  boundaries  of  the  Town  Tract. 


40  SAN  ANTONIO   I)I<:   BKXAR. 

Banks. — Sun  Antonio  is  a  wealthy  city.  There  are  no  less  than  fonr  Na- 
tional and  six  Private  Banks,  all  stable  institutions.  They  occupy  palatial  quar- 
ters. Bank  failures  in  the  city  are  unknown.  The  bank  rate  of  interest  is  from 
eight  to  twelve  per  cent.  There  are  many  mortgage  and  loan  institutions  who 
furnish  money  on  good  security  at  six  per  cent.  There  is,  moreover,  a  Local  In- 
surance Company,  the  directory  of  which  is  made  up  of  our  wealthiest  citizens. 

San  Antonio  Club. — This  institution  was  founded  by  the  association 
of  a  party  of  gentlemen  who  obtained  a  charter  dated  December  21st, 
1881.  It  was  instituted  for  "literary  purposes,  to  promote  .social  intercourse 
among  its  members  and  to  provide  them  the  convenience  of  a  Club  House.''  The 
following  were  the  original  incorporators  :  Messrs.  E.  D.  L.  Wickes,  H.  B.  An- 
drews, Jas.  T.  Thornton,  C.  K.  Breneman,  Erastus  Reed,  A.  B.  Frank,  J.  B. 
Lacoste,  H.  B.  Adams,  Frank  Grice,  F.  P.  Hord,  Jas.  Callaghan,  Thos.  J. 
Devine  and  H.  Grenet.  The  club  is  managed  by  a  committee  of  thirteen  direc- 
tors elected  annually  ;  their  terms  expire  on  the  30th  of  November  of  each  year. 
They  elect  from  among  their  number  a  president,  vice-president,  treasurer  and 
secretary  and  have  power  to  fill  vacancies.  They  also  pass  upon  the  admission 
of  members.  Their  meetings  are  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  month  at  8  o'clock 
p.  m.  in  winter  and  8:30  p.  m.  in  summer.  The  president,  or  in  his  absence  the 
vice-president,  authorizes  the  call  of  special  meetings  of  directors  or  of  the  club. 
The  first  president  was  E.  D.  L.  Wickes,  Esq..  and  he  held  the  office  many 
years.  The  present  president  is  A.  W.  Houston.  The  club  installed  itself  speed- 
ily after  its  formation  in  a  suite  of  rooms  (now  occupied  by  the  Harmony  club) 
at  the  corner  of  Alamo  Plaza  and  Alamo  street  above  the  old  postoffice,  but 
soon  set  about  plans  for  a  more  suitable  home.  Eventually  a  comprehensive 
scheme  was  realized  and  the  present  club  and  opera  house  was  occupied  in  the 
winter  of  1886-87.  The  building  fronts  on  Alamo  Plaza,  it  is  of  brick  and  is  al- 
together a  tasteful  structure.  Here  the  club  fulfils  its  ends  and  during  the  sea- 
son dispenses  a  ho.spitality  that  has  become  proverbial.  Its  receptions  are  among 
the  great  social  functions  of  the  winter,  and  its  attentions  to  distinguished  stran- 
gers who  deserve  well  of  their  fellow-men  have  been  innumerable.  Members  have 
the  privilege  of  introducing  vi.sitors  who  are  non-residents  of  the  county.  The 
present  secretary  is  W.  A.  Little,  Esq. 

Other  Clubs. — Are  the  "  Harmony,"  a  coterie  of  influential  Hebrews; 
"The  San  Antonio  Rifles,"  inaugurated  l)y  a  company  of  volunteers  of  that 
name  ;  The  "  Casino,"  an  old  established  German  association  :  the  Turners  and 
various  Singing,  Literary  and  Shooting  societies. 

Young-  Men's  Christian  Association.     This  l)ody  has  rooms  on 

the  corner  of  Alamo  and  Commerce  streets,  uj)  stairs,  temporarily.  Mr.  Rae 
will  be  found  in  charge  and  everybbd\'  is  welcome  to  tlu-ir  Reading  Rooms  and 
Gymnasium. 

Military  Organizations.  -San  Anlonit)  has  seen  nmch  of  war  in  ear- 
nest and  in  the  iieaceful  contests  of  compLlilive  drilling  luis  retained  her  military 
laurels.  The  San  Antonio  Rifles,  under  Capl.  Badger,  and  the  Belknap  Rifles, 
under  Capt.  R.  Green,  achieved  a  national  rcjiulation  at  Washington,  and  have 
won  prizes  at  every  inter-state  and  state  drill  they  have  attended.     The  Maverick 


THI<:  WATlCRvS  ()1<   SAX   AXTOXIO   AXD  SAX    I'lCDRO.  11 

Rifles,  a  j-onnger  company,  has  also  disliiiuuishcd  itself.  The  armories  of  these 
companies  are  the  scene  of  man\-  pleasant  informal  hops  during  the  season,  and 
the  members  are  otherwise  a  great  social  force  in  the  city.  Many  dates  of  interest 
in  the  history  of  these  companies  will  be  found  in  the  Calendar  at  the  end. 

Friendly  Societies. — All  these  or.^anizations  are  very  ade(iuately  rep- 
resented here.  The  Masons  are  contemi)lating  erecting  a  fine  hall.  The  Odd 
Fellows  are  already  installed  in  a  magnificent  building  on  Houston  street.  The 
Knights  of  Pythias  are  extremely  .strong,  and  the  society  comprises  some  of  our 
most  active  business  and  professional  men. 


Iff  ''ir  ~  -  ^-m^  fcj2^^^ 


\  ^^'%^v- ,  -  . 


The  Waters  of  San  Antonio  and  San  Pedro. 


THE  DITCHES  OR  ACEQUIAS. 

"  He'll  t\irn  your  current  in  a  ditch." 

— Shakespeare. 

And  now  conies  a  pleasant  chapter  to  narrate,  pleasant  because  it  deals  with 
that  which  makes  San  Antonio  the  naturally  charming  place  that  it  is,  pleasant 
because  it  deals  solely  with  the  efforts  and  arts  of  peace  in  a  history  that  is  only 
too  full  of  the  strivings  of  war,  bloodshed  and  contention  ;  pleasant  because  it  has 
to  do  with  clear  crystal  springs  rising  in  volume  from  unknown,  mysterious 
depths,  deep  translucent  pools  and  bubbling  brooks,  a  swirling  river  of  pure 
living  waters  and  the  arborous  accompaniments  of  foliage,  high  canopies  of 
greenery,  broad  groves,  great  trunks  and  tangled  vines,  and  with  the  plenty  of 
fields  of  waving  corn.  Let  imagination  wander  back  to  the  time  before  the 
waters  were  in  the  least  fouled  by  the  contact  of  civilization,  when  the  first 
Spanish  Missionaries  traveling  over  the  drier  western  plains  happed  suddenly 
upon  this  valle3%  knowing  little  of  it,  and  that  little  ()nl\-  by  hearsay,  how  their 
hearts  must  have  leaped  at  the  sight  of  this  abundance  of  pure  water,  these  strong 

Several  of  the  smaller  cuts  in  the  letter-press  are  produced  here  by  permission  of  L.  Prang  ^  Co.,  Bostou, 
and  are  copyrijjlited  designs  from  their  series  of  studies. 


42  SAN  ANTONIO  DK  BEXAR. 

constant  springs,  and  goodly  lands.  They  might  have  had  within  them  a 
feeling  of  thankful  exultation  that  their  lot  was  cast  for  at  least  a  brief  space  in 
pleasant  paths.  In  these  peacefiil  glades  they  might  soon  forget  the  lurking 
danger  and  hostility  of  the  warlike  natives  :  and  overlooking  the  valley 
they  might  have  concluded  "  Verily  a  river  went  out  of  Eden  to  water  the 
garden  ;  and  here  are  provided  two,  that  riv^er  was  divided  into  four  heads, 
these  by  the  blessing  of  God  and  our  Lady  Mary  on  our  labors  and  resources 
shall  be  divided  into  many  to  water  this  second  Eden."  Some  such  an  inspirtion 
was  likely  enough  the  origin  of  some  of  the  older  acequias  or  irrigation  ditches. 
Or  it  may  have  been  that  the  plain  practical  thought  only  occurred  to  them, 
*'  here  is  provided  an  abundance  of  water  and  fine  facilities  for  irrigation,  necessi- 
ties to  the  success  of  our  undertakings  and  Missions.  Let  us  take  and  have 
enough  and  to  spare,  for  nature  is  lavish  ;  besides  our  converts  and  the  people 
that  shall  be  afterwards  drawn  here  and  shall  follow  us  soon,  and  shall  enjoy  and 
supplement  our  labors, — these  will  need  it  all  by  and  by."  It  may  be  that  this 
is  nearer  the  truth,  for  that  the  Fathers  were  eminently  practical  and  unselfish 
workers  as  well  as  thinkers  has  been  proved  by  works  which  testify  to  this  day. 
In  these  later  days,  when  the  Spanish  domination  is  almost  forgotten  by  the  prevail- 
ing population,  when  the  representing  race  of  it  is  regarded  simply  as  one  of  the 
attractive  curiosities  rather  than  one  of  the  main  historic  quantities  of  the  place, 
when  the  past  and  present  influence  of  it  is  only  keenly  remembered  by  the 
lawyers,  searchers  after  land  titles  and  aspirants  to  local  political  emoluments 
(and  honors)  at  election  times,  we  are  apt  to  forget  how  much  we  modern  San 
Antonians  owe  to  the  right  estimate  that  these  men  and  their  generation  put  upon 
the  value  of  the  water  of  this  valley  and  their  quick  appreciation  of  the  facilities 
for  its  distribution.  San  Antonio  owes  its  very  existence  to  this  estimate.  For 
that  it  has  been  a  city  always  more  or  less  flourishing,  it  may  thank  these  pioneers. 
Are  we  not  now  also — in  our  arrogance  of  the  possession  or  rather  enjoyment  of 
an  almost  perfect  modern  system  of  water  works,  with  its  miles  upon  miles  of 
iron  pipes  that  was  almost  pressed  upon  the  citizens  like  a  dose  of  wholesome 
medicine  upon  a  wilful  and  perverse  child — only  too  prone  to  despise  in  our 
scientific  superiority  these  monuments  of  a  simple  wisdom  and  industry  of  the 
past. 

If  any  reader  should  weary  at  the  length  of  these  remarks  on  the  "  taking 
of  the  water,"  (saca  de  agua)  he  may  skip  it  ;  l)ut  it  must  be  written  if  only  to  do 
justice  to  the  founders  of  our  city,  not  to  speak  again  of  the  pleasure  of  the  task. 
Let  this  be  the  apology,  if  one  be  needed,  for  an  article  that  may  prove  wearisome 
to  some  by  rea.son  of  its  length  ;  the  editor  has  found  that  no  .such  true  estimate 
and  understanding  of  the  history,  domestic  and  public,  of  the  aims  of  these  good 
old  religious  pioneers,  and  later  their  imitators  in  ditch  construction,  of  "  their 
useful  toil  their  destiny  ob.scure,"  nor  indeed  for  that  matter,  the  history  and 
growth  in  the  last  century  of  the  whole  community,  as  by  following  up  the 
gradual  construction,  fact  of  existence,  and  logic  of  these  old  water  ways.  The 
reader  may  judge  for  himself  if  it  is  not  so,  l)y  following  the  story  of  one  of  these 
acetjuias  from  the  discovery  of  its  pui)lic  necessity  to  the  formation  of  a  company 
of  shareholders  among  those  settlers  most  nearly  interested  and  concerned,  to  the 
obtaining     of    the     permission    from .  His    Majesty,     the    King     through     his 


CONCKPCIOX   DITCH.  4J5 

representative  the  Governor,  to  the  settlement  of  the  neighbors'  real  or  fancied 
prior  water  rights,  to  the  election  or  a])pointnient  of  the  Acequiero  or  Acequiador 
(the  constructor  of  acequias),  to  the  actual  construction,  and  finally  to  that 
interesting  operation  of  the  drawing  of  lots  among  the  shareholders  of  the 
company  for  the  "  suertes  "  of  land  which  the  King  will  grant  to  them  upon  the 
simple  conditions  of  cultivating  the  lands  thus  granted,  of  keeping  the  channels 
clear  and  clean,  the  locks,  water  gates,  sluices,  fences,  aqueducts,  troughs,  etc., 
of  the  ditches  in  proper  repair,  and  one  horse,  and  arms  and  ammunition  in  read- 
iness to  meet  enemies  in  the  protection  of  the  colony.  On  this  line,  from  how 
they  learned  to  grasp  the  natural  water  advantages  of  the  valley,  may  be  traced 
the  true  inwardness  of  the  life  and  growth  of  the  town  in  the  eighteenth  century, 
say  from  1729  to  1798,  of  its  population  gradually  increased  by  soldiery,  settlers, 
special  immigrants  as  those  from  the  Canary  Islands,  camp  followers,  adventurers 
and  Indian  converts. 

The  main  or  madre  acequias  shall  be  herein  described  in  as  near  chronolog- 
ical order  as  it  is  possible  to  make  out. 


The  Pajalache  or  Concepcion  Ditch. 

This  is  the  oldest  of  all  the  Acequias.  The  exact  date  of  its  construction  is 
doubtful,  tnit  it  was  begun  early  in  the  last  century.  In  evidence  in  a  lawsuit — 
Rhodes  v.  Whitehead — this  date  was  given  as  1729  (see  Calendar  of  San  Antonio. 
October,  22d,  18r),S).  It  is  perhaps  more  probable  that  it  was  completed  a  few 
years  later  than  this.  It  was  finally  abaudoned  in  l.S(')9,  thus  serving  its  purpose 
nearly  140  years.  It  was  abandoned  on  account  of  the  dam  which  provided  it 
with  water  proving  too  great  an  obstruction  to  the  river's  current  and  a  nuisance 
to  the  city  during  flood  times.  This  dam  was  built  across  the  river  a  short  dis- 
tance above  the  town  ford,  and  above  the  present  dam  of  the  old  Lewis  Mill, 
about  on  a  line  with  Presa  street.  It  was  very  high — some  two  or  three  feet 
higher  than  the  Ivcwis  dam.  From  this  high  level,  through  a  deep  cuttnig,  the 
Pajalache  ditch  took  its  waters,  and  striking  Garden  street  almost  inuuediately, 
it  followed  the  direct  line  of  that  street  to  the  Concepcion  Mission,  and 
thence  on  to  join  the  River  below,  irrigating  lands  on  its  way  by  laterals.  At 
the  intersection  of  Mill  and  Garden  streets,  the  Alamo  Madre  ditch,  coming 
from  Water  street  a  few  years  later,  met  it,  and  the  waters  of  this  ditch  were 
taken  across  on  a  substantial  arched  stone  aqueduct,  which  exists  now,  only  the 
arches  have  remained  buried  since  the  disuse  of  the  Pajalache.  Before  or  upon 
the  abandonment  of  the  Pajalache,  in  order  that  the  compronii.se  between  the 
citizens  and  the  holders  of  water  rights  might  be  as  peaceably  effected  as  po.s.si- 
ble,  part  of  the  waters  of  the  Alamo  Madre  were  taken  at  this  same  intersection 
into  a  new  ditch  down  Garden  street,  to  the  left  of  and  on  a  higher  level  than 
the  Pajalache,  but  joining  the  old  Pajalache  chainiel  below,  and  so  on  to  Concep- 
cion Mission.  This  was  a  small  enough  ditcli  in  comparison  to  the  old  one,  but 
was  better  than  no  water  at  all.  The  main  water  of  the  Alamo  Madre  still 
crossed  on  the  aqueduct  and  continued  down  Mill  street,  crossing  this  street 
some  distance  down,  turning  to  the  left  and  on  to  join  tiie  River  ])elow. 


44  SAN  ANTONIO  DH  Bl'XAR. 

A  number  of  laterals  issued  from  these  ditches  right  and  left,  as  from  all  the 
main  ditches;  but  only  those  minor  laterals  that  have  some  historical  interest  in 
themselves — such  as  the  Alamo  Mission  branches — will  be  mentioned. 

The  Pajalache  ditch  was  made  both  wide  and  very  deep,  as  may  yet  be 
traced  on  Garden  street;  of  sufficient  size — tradition  has  it — that  the  Fathers  and 
their  Indians  kept  a  boat  on  it,  from  which  to  do  the  work  of  keeping  its  bed 
clean  and  clear  of  obstruction.  The  main  object  of  this  old  acequia  was  to  supply 
the  Concepcion   Mission  and  its  lands  with  water. 

The  San  Pedro  Ditch. 

This  ditch  comes  next  in  point  of  interest.  It  was  constructed  to  supply 
the  Villa  Capital  de  San  Fernando  as  well  as  to  irrigate  lands  along  its  course. 
It  issues  from  the  east  side  of  the  head  waters  of  the  San  Pedro  creek,  taking 
its  way  towards  and  down  North  Flores  street  crossing  to  Acequia  street  and 
flowing  across  the  west  side  of  Main  Plaza  immediately  under  the  front  of  San 
Fernando  Church  (Cathedral  now),  then  still  keeping  to  the  east  of  vSouth 
Flores  street  passes  through  the  United  States  Arsenal  grounds  to  the 
east  side  of  the  San  Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Railroad  Depot,  on  to  join  the 
Sati  Antonio  River,  with  a  branch  to  the  San  Pedro  Creek,  in  the  fork  of  the  Y 
of  the  River  and  Creek.  As  to  the  date  of  the  construction  of  both  this  ditch 
and  the  Alamo  Madre,  the  evidence  is  a  little  tangled.  It  cannot  be  many 
years  the  junior  of  the  Pajalache.  It  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the  documents 
relating  to  the  Upper  Labor  ditch  of  177()  to  1784  in  the  County  and  City 
Records  and  other  documents,  and  at  the  earliest  of  these  dates  the  San  Pedro 
ditch  had  \indoubtedly  been  in  use  many  years.  Such  evidence  in  regard  to  these 
two  ditches  as  has  been  found  bearing  upon  the  point  will  be  given,  and  the 
reader  may  draw  his  own  conclusions.  A  fuller  description  of  the  origin  of  the 
Upper  Labor,  the  editor  trusts,  will  in  a  measure  make  up  for  the  lack  of  accurate 
knowledge  as  to  these.  In  1730  the  Canary  Island  .settlers  came,  and  on 
November  the  2<Sth  of  the  same  year,  La  Villa  Capital  de  San  Fernando  was 
founded  and  a  Presidio  "  erected  "  under  Antonio  de  Aviles,  so  .says  an  ancient 
copy  of  the  Ordinances  of  San  Antonio.  In  1738  the  corner  .stone  of  the  old 
Parish  Church  of  San  Fernando  was  laid,  and  on  February  10th,  1773,  that  good 
Governor,  Baron  Ripperda,  who  seems  to  have  been  .so  active  in  any  matters 
that  pertained  to  the  welfare  of  San  Antonio,  built  the  first  Quarters,  Guard- 
hou.se  and  Jail  for  the  Presidio.  Now,  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  San  Pedro 
ditch  was  completed  ju.st  about  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  Pari.sh  Church. 
This  period  was  very  active  in  the  pro.secution  of  many  pulilic  and  ecclesiastical 
works.  There  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  it  was  constructed  later  than  the 
Pajalache  and  earlier  tlian  some  of  the  others. 

The  Alamo  Madre  Ditch. 

The  i)urp(;se  of  this  ditch  was  lo  supply  water  to  the  Mission  of  vSan  Antonio 
de  Valero,  or  the  Alamo  Mission,  and  its  lands.  Its  course  was  and  is  a  long  and 
useful  one,  and  its  carrying  capacity  is  large.  It  has  many  useful  and  historical 
laterals  and  branches,  and  some  that  are  al)andoned  and  .some  that  were  failures 
from  the  first.     The   course  of  the   mother  ditch  (the  laterals  will  be  .spoken  of 


ALAMO  MADRlv   DITCH.  l") 

aftcrwartls)  is  on  this  wise  :  Alter  leaving  its  source,  at  one  of  tiie  most  easterly 
points  or  the  head  ol  the  River,  its  nieanderings  follow  a  little  to  the  east  of  the 
line  of  the  road  known  as  River  Avenue,  passing  between  the  west  end  of  the 
Government  Post  Reserve  and  the  River,  whence  it  goes  on  to  a  point  a  little  to 
the  west  of  the  vSouthern  Pacific  Depot,  ])assing  on  through  properties  lying 
between  Avenue  E  and  Austin  street  ;  thence  across  the  junction  of  Nacogdoches 
street  and  Nolan  street,  across  Crockett,  Blum  and  Ivist  Commerce  streets 
(nearly  all  this  course  was  formerly  irrigable  land),  down  Water  street,  over  the 
old  Pajalache  in  an  aqueduct  ;  thence  down  Mill  street,  across  it,  turning  to  the 
left  to  tile  River  l)elow.  Its  first  notal)le  branch  (to  go  back  again  to  its  source 
and  going  down)  was  one  which  was  called  the  Valley  Ditch,  constructed  from 
plans  of  Mr.  Freisleben  ;  and  which,  from  the  time  of  its  completion — aliout 
1872 — proved  to  be  an  utter  failure,  and  but  a  sorry  venture  to  the  city,  the 
engineer  having  made  errors  in  the  grade.  It  was  almost  immediately  aban- 
doned. It  issued  from  the  Madre  at  a  point  at  the  extremity  of  Grand  Avenue, 
near  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  Depot,  taking  a  south-easterly  direction  down 
Walnut  street  to  a  course  left  of  the  old  Goliad  road,  over  the  south-eastern 
limits,  The  next  branch — that  one  which  issued  from  a  point  near  the  end  of 
Fifth  street  (east),  not  far  from  the  angle  formed  by  Nolan  and  Nacogdoches 
streets,  is  of  some  historical  importance.  It  makes  at  once  for  the  eastern  walls 
of  the  Alamo  Mission,  and  may  be  seen  close  under  the  east  end  of  the  Alamo 
Church,  and  is  said  to  have  supplied  the  beseiged  with  water  in  that  terrible  strug- 
gle of  l<So().  From  here  it  passes  on  through  the  Menger  Hotel  court-yard  ; 
thence  to  supply,  in  old  times,  the  inhabitants  of  East  Villita,  joining  the  mother 
ditch  once  more  near  the  intersection  of  Goliad  and  Water  streets.  This  ditch 
was  known  as  the  ditch  of  the  Alamo  proper,  and  itself  had  a  branch  al)andoned 
years  ago,  reaching  around  the  north  and  west  ramparts  of  the  Alamo  Mission 
.square,  pa.s.sing  along  the  west  line  of  stores  on  our  moilern  Alamo  Pla/.a, 
through  the  Opera  House  ground,  joining  the  River  there  at  the  back  on 
Crockett  street.  Then  another  modern  branch  (about  iii  the  '(iU's)  reached 
backward  from  the  mother  ditch  on  Martinez  street  toward  Garden  street,  cross- 
ing the  old  Pajalache  in  one  of  those  curious  a({ueducts  .spoken  of  in  the  Spanish 
records  as  "  canoa  " — a  canoe  or  hollowed  log,  of  cj-pre.ss  generally — ^joining 
the  River  immediately  after  cro.ssing  Garden  street.  The  next  branch  was  one 
already  mentioned  in  the  de.scription  of  the  Pajalache — a  com])romi.se  ditch  to 
the  lands  around  Mission  Concepcion. 

The  Mis.sion  of  San  Antonio  de  Valero,  as  shown  by  (.iraud,  was  moved  to 
the  east  Imnk  of  the  San  Antonio  River  from  the  Post  c'  San  Jose,  out  West,  in 
171N,  •  o  1  accomit  of  tlie  scarcity  of  water  ;  "  but  the  building  up  of  the  Mis.sion 
went  on  hut  slowly,  ami  the  fr/indation  of  tiie  Church  was  not  laid  until  1744. 
The  date  that  this  Mi.s.sion  supplied  itr-elf  with  water  by  means  of  the  Acequia 
Madre  del  Alamo  is  uncertain.  That  it  is  one  of  the  earliest  ditches  is  certain. 
At  any  rate,  it  is  placed  here  third  in  the  order  of  chronology.  One  reason  of 
the  scarcity  of  mention  of  this  ditch,  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  the  partition 
of  the  Alamo  lands  did  not  occur  until  1793;  so  that  it  is  not  mentioned  in  deeds 
as  a  property  boundary  line  until  then  ;  but  of  course  it  was  made  many  years 
before  that  date. 


46  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

The  Upper  Labor  Ditch. 

More  particulars  concerning  the  origin  of  this  ditch  can  l)e  given  than  of  any 
of  the  others  that  have  been  described,  and  tliey  are  given  in  the  belief  that 
these  particulars  throw  an  interesting  light  upon  the  life  and  workings  of  a  period 
in  the  history  of  San  Antonio  which  cannot  be  regarded  but  curiously  and  in- 
quiringly. In  the  County  Records  may  be  found  many  dociiments  and  copies  of 
decrees,  ordinances,  petitions  and  letters  in  the  original  Spanish  relating  to  this 
Acequia,  and  in  the  City  Engineer's  office  may  be  found  translations  of  some  of 
these  and  other  documents,  presumably  sent  from  Coahuila,  and  from  other 
sources  have  been  obtained  copies  of  translations  of  these  with  additions,  notably 
a  lengthy  document,  which,  it  is  alleged,  was  published  in  the  San  Antonio 
Ledger  on  April  1st,  1852  ;  all  these  are  more  or  less  tangled  in  their  dates  and 
abound  in  other  clerical  errors.*  These  dates  have  been  compared  and  checked 
off  as  far  as  possible,  and  from  this  material  has  been  gleaned  most  of  the  follow- 
ing information. 

In  the  first  days  of  the  year  1770,  it  was  found  to  be  desirable  to  irrigate 
lands  lying  between  the  upper  part  of  the  San  Antonio  River  west  and  the  San 
Pedro  Springs.     The  matter  was  agitated   among  some   citizens  interested  until 

*The  following  is  a  specimen  excerpt  of  the  documentary  evidence   referred   to,    the   translation    does 
not  seem  to  be  very  good,  a  few  of  the  most  conspicuous  errors  have  been  corrected. 
The  first  decree  of  the  Governor. 

"Don  Juan  Maria  de  Ripperda,  Baron  of  Rip])erda,  Colonel  of  Cavalry,  Governor  of  this  Province  of  Texas, 
its  Missions  and  Conquests  and  Frontiers,  Commander  of  Arms  (or  Forces)  of  the  same  and  of  Coahuila  and 
Nueva  Leon,  Captain  of  the  Royal  Presidio  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  by  his  Majesty  the  King. 

"Not  having  been  practised  up  to  this,  the  interesting  and  important  conveyance  of  water,  which  operation  is 
rendered  so  easy  by  the  proximity  of  the  San  Antonio  river  to  the  city  and  garrison,  and  although  in  a  commu- 
nication from  the  Viceroy,  the  Marquis  Casa  Fuerte  dated  September  20th,  1731,  His  Excellency  ordered  that  the 
water  of  the  two  springs  shoiild  be  divided  among  the  four  first  settlers  that  should  come  to  this  place,  and  Mis- 
sion with  their  families,  allowing  to  them  such  hours  of  the  day  as  might  suit  their  convenience  for  the  irrigation 
of  their  land,  letting  afterwards  the  waters  to  flow  freely  so  as  to  give  the  same  benefit  to  the  next  neighbors 
tesucbnieans  all  would  be  provided  with  plenty  of  water  for  their  lands  in  cultivation  without  injuring  each 
other. 

].'y  "in  asecond  coiumunication  from  the  .same  Most  Kxcellent  Viceroy  dated  the  12th  of  May  1733  to  the  Governor 
of  this.  Province,  Don  Antonio  Bustillos  y  Cevallos,  the  order  was  given  to  distribute  the  waters  of  the  San  An- 
tonio river  and  the  San  Pedro  creek  among  the  Fathers  of  the  Missions,  the  (iarrison  and  all  the  settlers  of  the 
town  of  San  Fernatido  giving  to  all  the  necessary  supplys  (sic)  without  depriving  the  Indians  in  their  settle- 
ments, but  with  the  condition  that  should  the  water  at  any  time  be  insufficient  to  give  to  all  continually  a  sup- 
ply, in  such  a  contingency  to  be  served  by  turns  between  all  the  neighbors,  according  to  law  II,  title  17.  book  1. 
Of  the  Recapitulation  of  the  Indies,  which  states  that  in  case  their  town  should  increase  in  population,  it  was  the 
^pperious  dut^v  of  the  Ciovernor  to  have  all  the  inhabitants  well  supplied  with  water. 

"In  compliance  with  the  said  law,  the  actual  Governor  (being  sick  at  the  time,)  appointed  Don  Mateo  Perez_ 
Lieutenant  of  this  Company  of  Bexar  with  instructions  to  give  possession  of  the  right  of  water  for  irrigation  to 
all  the  actual  settlers,  and  for  any  other  that  might  come  in  future,  accordingly  the  right  was  given  in  due  form 
on  the  27th  of  October  17.'t;!.  to  all  the  settlers  residing  above  the  town  ford  on  the  same  river,  San  Antonio,  and 
wjth  the  iijlention  of  carrying  into  effect  the  taking  of  the  water,  several  of  the  neighbors  of  this  city  and  Pre. 
sidio  have  applied  to  nie  wishing  to  aid  in  its  execution,  and  as  all  the  families  of  the  Canary  Island  settlers  as 
i*ell-asall  the  r£st  of  the  inhabitants  feel  interest  in  it,  according  to  former  superior  decrees,  and  in  order  to 
ayoid  in  future  all  motives  of  discord  between  settlers,  I  have  ordered  that  if  the  said  families  of  the  Canary 
Island  settlers,  or  their  actual  descendants  should  have  any  other  document  that  may  prove  in  their  favor,  to  pre- 
print it  to  one  within  four  day.H  with  the  answer  signed  by  all  the  persons,  heads  of  said  families,  .so  that  I  may  pro- 
ceejl  without  .delay  to  the  construction  of  the  work,  it  being  of  great  importance. 

'"In  faith  thereof  I  have  signed  this  my  decree  on  January  10th  177ti. 

lO    t'BLBAKON  RllM-HKDA.  '^    '  i. 

^"i^Cting  as  Jiid^c  Receptor  witlji  thp  witnesses  of  my  assistance  in  the  absence  of  a  Notary  Public,  there  being 
none  in  tM  I''rovince,  and  on  the  present  common  paper  not  having  any  with  the  Royal  Seal  or  stamp. 

<-'  'J  •  '.  '    i <  HI,  BARON  RIPPKRDA. 

..    "WiTXES^E^:— Jose  ViiNACiopR^Kj.j;^, 

-      '-  "   A'NTONHI  nAKCKNAZ.*^ 

*****      And  so  on,  the  decrees,  corres]>ondeuce.  etc.,  continuL-. 


UPPIiR   LABOR    DITCH.  47 

the  Governor  of  the  Province  of  Texas,  Huron  Juan  Maria  de  Rii)i)erda,  a  pro- 
gressive and  industrious  man,  directed  his  attention  to  it,  and  on  January  H)th, 
1776,  he  issued  a  decree  in  order  to  avoid,  as  lie  sa\s,  in  the  future,  all  motives 
of  discord  between  settlers,  ordering;  the  Canary  Island  settlers  or  their  actual 
descendents  to  produce  any  document,  il'  tliey  have  one,  that  might  prove  in 
their  favor,  and  present  it  to  liim  within  four  days,  their  reply  to  be  signed  by 
the  heads  of  the  said  families.  To  this  decree  on  January  loth,  they  reply  that 
the}'  have  no  document,  but  think  there  are  some  decrees  or  schedules  in  their 
favor,  depo.sited  in  the  Archives  of  this  town,  and  they  respectfully  ask  permi.ssion 
to  be  allowed  to  examine  the  Archives  to  search  for  these.  This  reciuest  is 
signed  by  eleven  of  the  Canary  Lsland  settlers,  or  their  descendents. 

The  next  day,  January  Kith,  177<),  a  meeting  of  the  Cabildo  is  called  by 
special  order  of  the  Governor,  and  in  the  ])resence  of  that  corporation,  it  was 
decided  that  all  the  documents  bearing  any  relation  with  the  town  and  the 
Canar}'  Island  settlers  should  be  examined,  and  it  was  there  and  then  declared 
that  should  aii}-  document  be  found  in  the  Archives  of  the  Captain-General,  the 
right  should  be  reserved  to  make  use  of  them  at  au}-  future  time.  A  memoran- 
dum to  this  effect,  besides  being  signed  by  the  .settlers,  bears  also  the  signature 
of  the  President,  Father  and  Friar  of  the  Missions  Pedro  Ramirez. 

Baron  Ripperda  next  addresses  a  commiuiication  similar  to  the  first- 
mentioned  to  the  President  of  the  Missions,  reiterating  that  there  were  only  two 
documents  or  superior  decrees  in  existence  in  connection  with  the  water  rights 
granted  to  the  Missions  and  settlers  of  the  town  and  maintaining  that  the 
inhabitants  of  the  place  were  free  to  u.se  the  water  of  the  River  for  irrigating 
purposes  if  they  did  not  interfere  with  the  supply  to  the  Mi.ssions.  Those 
documents  being  decrees  of  the  \'iceroy  the  Marquis  of  Casa  Fuerte  dated 
September  20th,  1731,  and  May  12th,  17-")o,  therefore  the  Governor  wishes  to 
know  if  the  Missions  under  the  President's  charge  have  any  claim  emanating 
from  any  superior  decree.  If  they  have,  the  Governor  would  like  to  be 
informed  of  it  as  soon  as  practicable,  "so  that  the  public  may  be  no  longer  de- 
prived of  such  a  great  benefit  "  as  the  distribution  of  the  water.  To  which 
communication  the  President  of  the  Missions  replies,  dating  from  the  Mission  of 
San  Juan,  January  20th,  177<i,  that  none  of  the  five  Missions  pos.se.sses  any 
docvnnent  in  their  favor  in  i)rejudice  of  the  inhabitants,  he  sees  clearly,  however, 
that  the  Mis.sions  being  situated  by  Royal  decree  upon  the  banks  of  the  River, 
with  the  rights  of  permanent  and  sufficient  water  for  the  cultivation  of  their 
lands,  the}-  have  the  prior  right  of  pos.ses.sion  and  construction  of  channels,  he 
mentions  this  right  in  ca.se  the  Mi.ssions  may  wish  to  exerci.se  it  at  some  future 
time,  but  the  President  is  not  of  the  dog  in  the  manger  kind,  and  he  says  he  is 
of  the  opinion  that  there  is  such  a  i)rofusion  of  water  in  the  River  that-  it  affords 
to  all  the  .same  benefit,  and  the  Mi.ssions  will  make  no  opposition  under  the  one 
understanding  that  the  right  of  priority  be  reserved  to  them. 

The  Governor  Ripperda  having  thus  .satisfied  himselt  that  he  is  tre.spassing 
on  no  one's  proper  rights,  he  de.sires  that  the  two  documents  be  filed  under  the 
understanding  that  any  taking  of  the  water  must  be  effected  without  injuring 
the  sup]ily  to  the    Mi.ssions.      He  is  also   satisfied  that  it    has  lieen  clearlv  shown 


48  SAX   AXTOXIO   DH  BIvXAR. 

and  declared  that  there  exists  no  other  superior  decree  that  might  act  in  the 
favor  either  of  the  settlers  or  the  "  five  towns  of  the  Missions,"  he  accordingly- 
issues  an  ordinance  requesting  the  neighbors  and  those  who  may  wish  to  con- 
tri1)ute  to  the  taking  of  the  water,  to  enlist  themselves  forthwith,  contributing 
every  one  any  and  "  necessary  utensils,"  and  the  Baron  promises  that  the 
partition  of  the  lands  "  will  be  made  with  the  due  equit}-  of  chance."  He  insists 
that  the  person  who  may  take  charge  of  the  work  must  possess  intelligence  and 
experience  ;  the  election  of  the  Acequiero  to  be  decided  by  a  plurality  of  votes 
among  the  shareholders.  The  Acequiero  elected  shall  be  entitled  to  an  extra 
portion  or  suerte  of  land,  but  he  shall  furnish  two  additional  men.  The  Gov- 
ernor then  makes  in  his  decree,  numerous  suggestions  concerning  the  construction 
of  the  ditch,  as  to  its  protection  from  cattle  by  the  planting  of  nopal  trees 
(prickly  pears)  or  other  thorny  bushes,  and  saj-s  that  the  water  gates  must  have 
stone  and  mortar  foundations  and  suggests  other  sensible  precautions  concerning 
the  width,  depth  and  general  completeness  of  the  work  to  be  done.  He  is  very 
thorough,  but  withal  indulgent,  and  he  says  that  all  the  persons  engaged  in  the 
construction  may  suggest  any  opinion  that  may  contribute  to  the  convenience 
and  benefit  of  all,  so  that  everything  (he  loves  peace — this  good  Governor)  may 
move  smoothly  and  peaceably,  for  the  end,  he  says,  "  of  the  respectable  laws  of 
his  Catholic  Majesty,  is  to  avoid  in  his  dominions  all  kinds  of  discords  amongst 
his  subjects."  And  in  order  that  this  important  decree  may  be  made  known  and 
promptly  executed,  "  I  have  ordered  its  publication,  after  holding  High  Mass,  at 
the  beating  of  the  drum  at  the  door  of  the  Court  House,  as  customary." 

In  the  meanwhile,  we  may  surmise  that  things  went  along  smoothly  for 
a  while,  for  nothing  more  is  heard  of  the  Upper  Labor  Ditch  and  its  construction 
until  Ji:ly  l<3th,  177(j,  when  we  learn  of  the  second  election,  in  which  one  Angel 
Galin  is  elected  over  his  opponent,  Bartholome  Seguin,  to  take  the  place  of 
Foribio  Fuentes,  who,  for  "reasons  by  him  exposed,  which  were  foinid  .suffi- 
cient," makes  application  to  be  relieved  and  to  be  awarded  the  emoluments  in 
land,  etc.,  to  which  he  was  entitled.  He  is  relieved  on  July  loth,  on  the  condi- 
tion that  he  put  two  men  daily  on  the  work  of  construction  until  the  new 
director  shall  bring  the  irrigation  to  a  convenient  place,  which  means  that  the 
first  Suertes  of  land  would  be  drawn  for  and  granted  when  the  water  had  been 
conveyed  over  sufficient  land  to  warrant  a  partition.  On  the  former  date,  July 
i;5th,the  share-holders  who  seem  to  desire  to  profit  by  some  undesirable  experiences 
entered  into  a  hard  and  fast  agreement  with  Angel  Galin,  the  newly  elected  Ace- 
quiero, in  which  he  is  bound  to  continue  the  work  to  its  conclusion  without  the  in- 
terference of  any  person,  for  the  sum  of  one  dollar  per  day,  deducting  the  price  of 
four  men  of  the  twenty-six  to  work  daily,  (the  poor  peones  or  laborers  could  not  have 
made  much  above  the  jirlce  of  their  salt,  according  to  this),  and  under  no  consid- 
eration whatever  will  a  substitute  be  allowed  him,  and  that  lho.se  entitled  to 
irrigation  shall  have  the  right  to  remove  him,  in  case  the  work  shall  be  badly 
directed,  or  for  any  "other  motives  that  impartial  persons  may  find,  such  as  delay, 
bad  work,  directioi;  iSic,''  he  is  to  inspect  the  work  daily  until  the  object  of  fur- 
nishing all  the  neighbors  with  water  be  accomplished,  ami  \w  binds  himself  to  the 
completion  of  the  contract  "with  all  his  present  ami  future  property."  To  all  this 
Angel  Galin  is  ready  to  agree,  so  he  takes  charge  of  the  work. 


THIv  UPriCR   LAIJOR   DI'IX'II.  49 

All  thes^  decrees  of  the  Baron  are  dated,  "in  the  town  of  San  Fernando  &c., 
&c.,"  now  conies  one  however  dated  "In  the  Royal  Garrison  of  San  Antonio  de 
Bexar,  and  city  of  San  Fernando"  on  the  28th  day  of  April  1777,  in  which  the 
Governor  says,  that  he  has  been  informed  that  the  work  has  reached  as  far  as  La 
Lomita  de  \'ieja,  and  that  the  first  distribution  of  Suertes  could  be  made  to 
the  twenty-five  persons  entitled  to  them  and  two  for  Foribio  Fuentes,  the  Ex- 
Acequiero.  Twenty-six  chances  contain  •io.-i-'J.'i  varas  of  land,  wdiich  are  meas- 
ured for  irrigation  into  portions  of  different  lengths  lying  between  the  River  and 
the  Acequia.  It  is  a  pity  to  waste  a  season,  and  it  is  now  April  and  the  season 
for  planting  corn  is  passing,  so  the  Governor  orders  the  drawing  at  once  to  be 
made  in  the  Court  House  of  the  town,  giving  admittance  to  all  the  persons  inter- 
ested, (a  complete  list  of  the  shareholders  follows)  and  to  everybody  wishing  to 
witness  the  operation.  The  twenty-six  tickets  are  placed  in  one  covered  urn  and 
the  names  in  another,  two  children  draw  these,  the  Governor  reads  the  results. 
Each  shareholder  draws  his  Suerte  (literally  his  luck)  of  good  rich  acres  of  the 
Labor  de  Nuestra  Senora  de  los  Dolores,  and  it  is  granted  to  them  by  the  king 
that  they  may  take  possession  of  it,  and  bequeath  the  titles  to  their  children 
or  any  other  heirs,  and  no  other  person  or  persons  shall  at  any  time  have  any 
claim  or  right  in  the  said  properties  which  have  hitherto  been  considered  as  be- 
longing to  the  Crown  af  Spain.  The  Governor  forthwith  directs  Don  Simon  de 
Arocha  Lieutenant-General  of  the  Province  to  give  to  those  entitled,  possession  of 
their  lands  thus  drawn,  upon  the  simple  conditions  mentioned  in  the  introductory 
to  this  subject.  The  second  and  final  drawing  was  held  on  the  Sth  day  of  March 
1778,  the  total  being  fifty-two  Suertes  distributed,  thus;  first  drawing,  twenty-five 
among  the  shareholders;  one  extra  to  the  ex-constructor  who  was  also  a  share 
holder;  second  drawing,  twenty-one  among  the  shareholders;  one  extra  to  Angel 
Galiu,  constructor  who  was  also  a  shareholder;  and  four  to  be  cultivated  in  com- 
mon, to  cover  some  expenses;  total  fifty  two  Suertes.  Perhaps  it  is  a  fact  suffi- 
ciently interesting  to  notice,  that  the  family  of  Rodriguez  still  occupies  the  land 
thus  granted  near  the  junction  of  this  ditch  and  the  San  Pedro  ditch.  Every- 
thing is  not  cleared  up  however  with  regard  to  construction  until  April  2nd 
1781  when  Angel  Galin  reporting  that  the  ditch  being  newly  cleaned,  and  the 
water  turned  in,  he  desires  to  be  released  from  further  obligations.  And  still  the 
shareholders  were  not  satisfied,  and  in  1784  the  quarrels  over  the  Upper  Labor 
ditch  were  waxing  so  hot,  that  the  Governor  by  petition,  used  his  influence  to 
keep  the  peace. 

This  ditch,  the  Upper  La])or,  taking  its  waters  from  the  west  side  of  the 
head  waters  of  the  San  Antonio  river,  takes  the  course  of  the  Rock  Quarry  Road, 
reaching  around  Tobin's  Hill,  across  San  Pedro  avenue,  joining  the  San  Pedro 
ditch  at  the  Rodriguez  property  near  the  west  extremity  of  Laurel  street,  and  by 
an  overflow  here  really  joins,  across  the  narrow  strip  of  land  intervening,  the  San 
Pedro  creek.  From  a  point  soon  after  it  leaves  the  Rock  Quarry  road,  a  branch 
issues  from  it  in  a  direction  towards  Madison  Square,  watering  lands  between  that 
point  and  the  San  Antonio  river.  It  has  another  more  important  but  quite  mod- 
ern branch  in  the  Alazan  ditch,  this  was  constructed  from  plans  made  by  Mr. 
Giraud  in  1872,  and  in  reality  carries  the  Upper  Labor  water  north  up  San  Pedro 
Avenue  and  around  the  San  Pedro  Springs  to  the  west,  then   taking  a  southerly 


50 


SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 


course  irrigates  all  those  lands  west  of  the  vSaii  Pedro  creek.  The  I.  &  G.  N.  R. 
R.  follows  pretty  closely  its  line  as  far  as  the  ditch  goes.  This  ditch  finalh-  joins 
the  Alazan  creek  some  little  distance  before  that  creek  joins  the  San  Pedro  creek. 
It  was  finished  and  opened  June  Dth,  1875,  It  cost  the  city  with  the  Valley  ditch, 
a  branch  of  the  Alamo  Madre  ditch,  mentioned  before,  and  constructed  at  the  same 
date  So'^.OOO.  The  Alazan  was  a  bold  and  practical  conception,  but  the  work 
seems  to  have  been  inadequately  done. 

The  control  of  the  ditches  has  long  since  left  private  hands.  The  first  Amer- 
ican manager  of  ditches  was  Capt.  T.  H.  Beck  in  1850.  In  1858  the  city  took 
them  in  hand  and  on  January  1st  of  that  year  John  Fries  was  appointed  first  Ditch 
Commissioner  by  A.  A.  Lockwood,  mayor.  That  office  is  at  present  held  by 
Mr.  P'rank  Huntress. 


The  San  Antonio  River. 


But  then  I  love  its  lazy  days' 
Perpetual  blaze  of  bluest  blue, 
And  love  to  bask  as  oft  I  do 
Down  where  the  river  winds  its  ways, 
Where  giant  trees  the  Summer  through 
Seem  halls  that  echo  wizard  lays, 
Where  all  day  long  those  lays  are  heard 
From  throbbing  throat  of  mocking  bird 
Above  the  chorus  crickets  raise, 
Where  most  I  miss  the  purple  hue 
And  scents  of  heaths  and  heather, 
And  where  I  love  to  sing  the  praise 
of  Texas  Summer  weather. 

— Thk  B.  B.  in  Thxas. 


The  story  of  the  river  as  applied  to 
the  public  interests  of  our  city  is  a  story 
to  make  angels  weep  and  to  cause  the 
alligators,  if  our  river  had  any,  not  only 
to  shed  crocodile  tears,  but  to  actually 
feel  sad,  and  this  is  all  the  more  touching 
when  it  is  considered  that  sadness  must 
be  a  feeling  strange  to  animals  of  such 
proverbially  good  digestions.  Of  course 
the  alligators  are  hypothetical,  they 
were  never  pets  of  our  Saint  Anthony.  The  good  saint  in  the  first  jilace  made 
his  river  too  crooked  for  their  comfort  and  in  the  second  llicy  conohuled  that  lie 
and  liis  river  were  entirely  too  fivsli  for  IIriii,  so  they  returned  to  the  nuuUly 
Ikinous  of  Ivastern  Texas.  But  this  is  not  to  be  a  liistory  of  angels  or  alligators, 
l)Ul  a  word  or  two  al)Out  a  subject  we  are  just  a  little  t-liary  of  handling  without 
gloves  ;  this  accounts  for  our  (pioting  jioetry  and  dragging  angels  in  1)\-  tlie  nim- 
bus and  wandering  off  U)  such  irrelevant  subjects  as  alligators. 


THE  SAN  ANTONIO  RU'ICR.  51 

"We  would  a  round  unvarnished  tale  deliver  "  but  it  is  just  this  waj-  with 
us — we  don't  know  exaetl}-  whether  to  feel  glad  that  the  Head  of  the  River  is  not  a 
beer  garden — or  to  be  sad  that  a  city  could  sell  so  grand  a  birthright,  not  only  to 
sell  it  but  to  be  so  blind  and  remorseless  that  it  refused  to  buy  it  back  when  it 
had  a  good  chance.     And  as 

"  To  mourn  a  mischief  that  is  past  and  gone 
Is  the  next  way  to  draw  new  mischief  on  " 

we  won't  be  sad  about  it.  There  is  such  a  variety  of  ways  of  looking  at  this 
subject  that  we  will  just  state  some  incidents  and  particulars  that  we  know  about, 
nor  rashly  rush  into  any  unseemly  display  of  high  spirits.  The  worst  that  can 
be  said  about  our  splendid  system  of  water  supply  is,  that  "  it  gomes  a  leedle 
high."     The  City  of  San  Antonio  is  a  credit  to  its  Water  Works. 

It  is  said  that  the  first  permanent  settlement  on  the  San  Antonio  river  was 
near  its  head  in  the  year  1()!)2.  Nearly  two  hundred  years  ago.  For  years  after 
this  the  river  source  to  mouth  belonged  to  the  Crown  of  Spain.*  The  first  char- 
ter granted  to  San  Antonio  was  given  by  the  King  of  Spain  in  the  year  17o'>  or 
'34.  It  only  has  to  be  remembered  that  the  Recapitulation  of  the  Indies  con- 
tained strict  laws  and  rules  concerning  public  water  rights,  to  be  certain  that  the 
wonderful  resources  of  our  river  in  relation  to  public  comfort  and  welfare  were 
duly  remembered.  True,  to  the  Missions  were  granted  the  prior  priviliges,  but 
then  the  Missions  were  one  of  the  many  starting  points  of  our  City's  history. 
Forty  years  afterwards  neither  these  privileges  nor  those  alleged  to  have  been 
conferred  upon  the  Canary  Islanders  were  held  to  interfere  with  the  rights  of  any 
other  citizens  or  settlers  in  and  about  San  Fernando.  And  it  came  to  pass  in 
later  days  when  Texas  had  changed  hands  the  new  City  Government  found  it 
necessar)^  to  establish  the  boundaries  of  San  Antonio.  This  was  finally  done  in 
the  courts,  all  about  which  doings  can  be  found  in  Texas  Reports,  Vol.  7,  page 
288  et  seq.  And  Giraud  made  the  "  Original  City  Survey."  The  lots  contain- 
ing the  Head  Springs  of  the  river,  or  the  Worth  Springs  as  they  were  called 
aliout  that  time — because  General  Worth  had  camped  there  with  his  Military 
force — were  accounted,  with  much  other  land,  as  belonging  to  the  City's  public 
domain.  Now,  the  finances  of  the  City  ni  the  years  preceeding  ISoO  were  not  in 
the  most  flourishing  condition.  The  Council  hardly  knew  to  what  quarter  they 
should  turn  for  funds  to  build  the  long  talked  of  Court  House,  Jail  and  School 
House.  The  Council  felt  themselves  to  be  "  land  poor."  In  section  eight  of  the 
City  Charter  of  December  14th,  ISoT,  it  was  permitted  that  certain  parcels  of 
Public  Land  might  be  sold.  The  proceeds  of  any  such  sale  to  be  appropriated 
to  the  erection  of  the  buildings  mentioned  and  the  endowment  of  a  Public 
School.  The  land  was  not  ordered  to  be  sold  until  August  24th,  1S41).  It  was 
decided  on  October  29th,  184i),  to  erect  such  buildings  and  in  the  following  year, 
September  (ith,  they  were  begun  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Military  plaza. 
This,  the  old  "Bat  Cave,"  is  to  be  removed  soon  or  as  soon  as  the  New  City  Hall 
is  completed.  And  this  old  '  Bat  Cave  '  furnished  the  excuse  and  grounds  upon 
which  were  sold  the  City's  lands.  Shortly  after  this  there  was  appointed  by  the 
Cit}-  "  a  committee  to  regulate  the  sale  of  the  City  Lands  "  and  on  November  4th, 

*  observe  with  regard  to  this  in  the  article  on  "  The  Upper  Labor  ditch." 


52  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

1852  when  the  foil)'  was  ripe  another  committee  which  had  been  similarly  ap- 
pointed "to  decide  the  manner  of  selling  the  Cit}'  property"  reported  to  the 
Council  that  they  had  chosen  Martin  H.  Campbell  licensed  auctioneer  to  sell  the 
City  lands  by  public  outcr3\  To  Giraud's  everlasting  credit  be  it  said,  that  he  saw 
the  mistake  that  was  about  to  be  made  and  the  wrong  that  would 
eventually  revert  upon  the  City,  and  to  a  meeting  of  the  Council  on 
November  Sth,  1S52,  he  presented  a  report*  which  was  adopted  strongly 
advising  the  reservation  of  certain  lots  at  the  Head  of  the  River  to  the 
use  of  the  City.  He  thought  it  would  be  a  good  place  for  the  U.  S.  Arsenal  and 
other  public  works.  Whilst  he  was  on  the  subject  he  wished  also  to  recommend 
that  a  Square  be  kept  at  the  San  Pedro  Springs  for  "a  male  college."  Also  that 
certain  hard  stone  quarries  on  the  City  properties  be  not  sold,  and  the  wise  Engi- 
neer continues  to  beg  the  Honorable  Body  to  reserve  and  make  a  road  upon  the 
east  bank  of  the  river,  twenty  varas  wide,  also  a  similar  road  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Alamo  Madre  ditch,  "  as  near  the  river  and  ditch  as  they  may  be  placed  con- 
sistently with  public  interests."  But  alas  !  on  that  very  day,  November  Sth, 
1852.  Lot  ol,  Range  1,  District  No.  2,  containing  11 1^^  acres  had  been  sold 
by  the  auctioneer  upon  the  usual  terms,  20  per  cent,  cash  down,  the  rest  in  fifty 
years  bearing  interest  at  8  per  cent,  per  annum,  for  the  sum  of  $820.  Also 
lot  30,  same  Range  and  District  containing  12  jW,  same  terms,  for  the  sum  of 
$655, — both  to  Alderman  J.  R.  Sweet.  Lol  31  is  the  land  upon  which  was 
erected  the  old  Sweet  Homestead,  and  the  lot  upon  which  the  fine  residence  of 
Mr.  Brackenridge  now  stands  adjoining  it.  These  lots  were  the  nucleus  of  that 
most  desirable  property  that  is  generally  known  as  the  "old  Sweet  place,"  with- 
out doubt  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  if  not  the  most  beautiful,  places  in  Texas,  its 
woodland  grace  and  parklike  beauty  so  heightened  by  the  perpetual  mystery  of 
its  profound  and  noble  springs.  This  is  the  Head  of  the  River.  There  are  other 
fine  properties  in  this  neighborhood  with  exceptional  water  advantages  and  privi- 
leges, but  this  property  was  really  the  ke}'  to  the  situation,  the  Ojo  de  Agua,  the 
birthright  of  the  city.  The  "Sweet  place"  included  besides  the  two  already  men- 
tioned, five  other  lots,  originally  sold  at  the  same  time  by  the  City  to  various  pur- 
chasers, but  all  finally  acquired  by  Mr.  Sweet  by  the  summer  of  1859,  and  by 
him  sold  on  August  29th  1859,  to  Mr.  G.  W.  Barnes,  ofSavanah,  Ga.  These 
other  lots  were  Nos.  30  and  31,  Range  1,  District  3;  something  over  twenty  acres 
apiece  sold  by  the  City  to  Francois  Marchant,  Marchant  and  Cit)'  to  Sweet 
through  the  sheriff.  Ects  Nos.  28  and  29,  Range  1,  District  2,  sold  by  the  City  to 
T.  J.  Devine,  Nov.  8th,  1852,  by  Devine  to  O'Hara,  by  O'Hara  to  Sweet.  Lot 
32,  Range  1,  District  No.  2,  sold  by  the  City  to  Geo.  M.  Martin,  bj^  Martin  to 
Sweet  in  1859.  These  sev^en  original  City  lots  formed  the  "Sweet  property"  and 
this,  G.  W.  Barnes  owned  for  just  ten  years  when  he  sold  it  to  Mrs.  Isabella  H. 
Brackenridge,  September  15th  18(59.  It  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Bracken- 
ridge, the  well  known  banker  and  president  of  our  Water  Works,  who  has  by 
nian\-  improvements,  additions  and  wise  investment,  made  it  what  it  is  to-day — 
an    invaluable   possession.      If  the  story  of  our  City's  negligence  and  folly  had 

*U  would  be  intLrcstiiig  to  luar  wlial  k"0<1  the  adoption  of  this  Report  ever  did  for  the  City  of  San 
Antonio,  and  further  to  learn  why  the  mcnibers  of  the  Honorable  Body  themselves  paid  so  little  heed  oi  respect 
to  its  purport.  And  was  it  not  tlii>  same  ijuestion  which  so  ag-itated  the  honest  soul  of  our  good  AUlerman 
•Mackcy.  some  two  years  ago.  ? 


Tlllv  SAN   AXTOXIO   RIX'IvR.  53 

ended  here  in  the  sale  of  her  finesl  heritage,  it  would  hardly  be  worth  while  to 
waste  further  space.  But  there  is  a  sequel,  a  lesson  it  is  well  for  the  rising  gen- 
eration of  electors  and  embryo  aldermen  to  take  to  heart. 

It  is  highly  probable  that  Mr.  Brackenridge,  with  his  keen  instinct  for  real 
values,  did  not  underate  the  prize.  It  is  moreover  not  wholly  surmi.se  upon  which 
it  might  be  averred  that  he  saw  that  the  City  ought  to  be  the  owner  of  this  mag- 
nificent property.  He  sees  it  to-day,  but  now  as  before  he  does  not  underate  his 
possession,  as  far  as  their  value  to  the  City  is  concerned.  The  Head  of  the  River 
property  and  the  Water  Works  are  too  closely  linked  together  by  mutual  interesst, 
to  allows  a  consideration  of  them  apart.  That  Mr.  Brackenridge  was  willing  to 
part  with  the  Head  of  the  River  at  all,  is  an  indication  of  some  disinterestedness, 
but  what  speaks  more  loudly  for  this,  is,  that  he  was  willing  to  part  with  it  at  not 
an  immoderate  price.  His  terms  are  sufficient  proof  of  this  to-day.  The 
area  of  the  Sweet  tract  was  altogether  108  acres  more  or  less.  This  with  im- 
provements and  some  important  additions,  Mr.  Brackenridge  on  January  16th 
1872,  offered  to  sell  to  the  City  for  the  sum  of  $50,000.  He  oflfered  it  upon  easier 
terms  than  those  upon  which  the  City  had  sold  its  lands  twenty  years  before,  ex- 
cept that  he  was  the  better  judge  of  values.  He  did  not  even  ask  for  the  20  per 
cent.,  cash  down,  it  appears.  He  would,  he  said,  rent  the  place  for  $4,000  per 
annum,  the  exact  amount  of  interest  he  asked,  viz  8  per  cent.,  the  money  in  fifty 
years.  It  seems  almost  incredable,  yet  if  the  very  full  reports  and  large  corres- 
pondence may  be  relied  upon,  these  are  true  particulars.  His  offer  was  read  and 
accepted  on  January  22d  by  some  members  of  the  council  and  Mayor  Thielepape, 
yet  there  must  have  been  a  division  of  opinion  among  the  members.  The  matter 
at  once  became  a  subject  of  consuming  interest  in  the  town.  The  newspapers 
were  full  of  it.  People  for  the  time  talked  of  nothing  else.  A  most  prophetic 
letter,  viewed  in  the  light  of  subsequent  developments,  appeared  in  the  San  An- 
tonio Herald  over  the  signature  of  "Citizen"  on  February  2nd  1872.  It  strongly 
urged  that  the  purchase  be  consummated  and  pointed  out  that  the  price  and  term? 
were  reasonable.  The  misguided  faction  won  the  day.  Governor  Davis  on 
March  12th  put  a  check  upon  the  proceedings.  The  Secretary  of  State  with  many 
others  unfortunately,  threw  what  influence  they  possessed,  unwittingly,  against  the 
best  interests  of  the  community.  On  March  27th  Governor  Davis  appointed  Mr. 
Newton  in  the  place  of  Thielepape  removed,  and  effectually  threw  the  business 
into  abeyance.  Thielepape,  as  long  as  he  had  the  power,  without  doubt  had  done 
all  he  could  to  clinch  the  bargain.  He  said  he  saw  that  the  purcha.se  would 
prove  to  be  a  bargain  for  the  City.  It  must  be  acknowledged  that  the  odds  are 
that  he  did,  and  that  he  was  much  more  of  a  prophet  than  the  majority  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  Another  clear  case  of  the  minority  being  in  the  right.  On  April 
3rd  a  special  committee  of  four — Their  names? — It  matters  not — was  appointed  by 
the  council  "to  test  the  finality  of  Ex-Ma^^or  Thielepape's  contract  with  Mr. 
Brackenridge.  This  committee  on  May  Oth,  causes  the  alleged  purchase  to  be 
revoked  and  rescinded.  Of  course  this  proceeding  does  not  satisfy  Mr.  Bracken- 
ridge so  on  August  ord,  he  tenders  the  rent  for  the  property  he  has  been  occupy- 
ing This  is  refused  by  Mayor  Newton,  Not  even  content  with  this  and  fear- 
ing a  cloud  on  his  title,  Mr.  Brackenridge  enters  suit  to  try  and   compel  the  City 


54  SAN  ANTONIO  DR  BKXAR. 

to  its  obligations.     This  suit  was  hovvev-er  very  amicably  settled  in  November 
1874.     The  alleged  contract  being  declared  null  and  void. 

This  is  the  true  story  of  how  and  why  the  City  of  San  Antonio  to-day  does 
not  own  the  property  commonly  called  "The  Head  of  the  River."  And  where,  O 
where  are  your  twenty  vara  roads — good  honest  hearted  Giraud?! 

It  has  already  been  said  what  a  lovely  river  the  San  Antonio  is,  what  a  source 
of  blessing  it  is,  and  how  it  meanders  and  winds  up  and  down.  "  in  and  out  and 
around  about"  the  Cit}',  that  this  is  mentioned  again  must  be  excused  for  we  have 
acquired  the  San  Antonian  love  for  this  dear  stream,  and  we  leave  the  sentiment 
with  regret  to  talk  of  iron  pipes,  contracts,  engineers  and  incorporaters,  and 
suchlike  soulless  articles  and  beings. 


The  Water  Works. 

That  our  best  water  brought  by  conduits  hither. 

— Coriolauus,  Act  ii,  Scene  iii. 

The  first  "Water  Works"  of  San  Antonio  were  of  course  the  early  irrigation 
ditches,  supplemented  by  shallow  wells.  The  abundance  of  water,  apparently 
pure,  but  really  impure  by  reason  of  generations  of  drainage  over  and  through 
accumulations  of  filth,  was  a  stumbling-  block  to  the  minds  of  the  less 
enlightened  citizens.  The  constant  preaching  however  of  those  who  knew  to 
those  who  wished  to  know,  at  last  made  a  system  of  Water  Works  possible  in  the 
community.  Very  gradually  the  conversion  went  on,  until  to-day  everj^  citizen 
of  us  is  alive  to  the  importance  of  the  handy  profusion  of  sweet  pure  water,  and 
keenly  sensible  of  the  tremendous  growth  year  by  year  in  monetary  value  of 
"The  Water  Works"  property.  The  water  question  was  in  constant  agitation 
from  the  date  of  the  last  visitation  of  cholera  in  1S66.  Many  suggestions  and 
offers  were  made  and  discussed,  but  the  first  really  definite  proposition  was  made 
in  May  1873,  by  Mr.  Geo.  M.  Maverick,  but  it  fell  through.  In  April  1875  there 
was  a  meeting  to  consider  an  offer  made  by  "The  National  Waterworks  Company" 
of  New  York.  The  offer  was  refu.sed.  The  matter  did  not  abate  in  interest,  how- 
ever, for  on  May  3d,  1875,  a  meeting  was  called,  and  held  on  the  Gth  at  the 
Menger  Hotel,  at  which  much  was  said  in  favor  of  a  system  of  Water  Works  for 
the  City.  It  was  hard  Missionary  work.  September  3d  a  company  was  sug- 
gested, in  .spite  of  apathy  and  indifference  prevailing,  of  which  Mr.  H.  B.  Adams 
was  to  be  President  and  F.  Giraud  Secretary.  The  lime,  however,  was  not  (jiiilc 
ripe,  and  this  company  was  never  probably  fully  organized. 

On  April  od,  1877,  the  City  of  San  Antonio  gave  the  original  contract  of  the 
San  Antonio  Water  Works  Company  to  J.  B.  I^acoste  and  a.ssociates,  in  which 
the  latter  were  to  supply  the  City  of  San  Antonio  with  water,  using  the  Head  of 
the  San  Antonio  River  as  a  source  of  supply.  The  work  was  to  be  begun  "  six 
months  from  the  date  of  the  arrival  of  tlie  Railroad,"  anil   to  be   finished  within 


Till';  WATI'R  WORKS.  55 

fifteen  months  from  and  after  April  3d,  1.S77.  This  arrangement  as  to  time  was 
literally  carried  out.  The  storage  reserv^oir  was  to  be  completed  within  two  years 
from  April  M,  1877.  The  City  of  San  Antonio  agreed  to  lease  to  J.  B.  Lacoste 
and  associates  for  a  reservoir,  six  acres  of  ground  on  the  upper  or  western  part  of 
Rock  Quarry  Road,  and  also  the  property  at  the  head  of  the  Upper  Labor  Ditch, 
• '  heretofore  set  aside  by  the  City  for  the  purposes  of  Water  Works, ' '  so  long  as 
this  contract  continues  in  force.  Permission  for  the  Company  to  use  rock  from 
the  City  quarries  was  also  given. 

The  contract  "shall  subsist "'  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years  from  tlie  com- 
pletion of  said  works,  at  the  end  of  which  time  the  City  shall  have  the  right  to 
buy  the  works  at  an  appraised  value,  but  if  the  City  does  not  buy  back  at  the  end 
of  twenty-five  years,  the  contract  shall  run  until  the  works  are  purchased,  and 
the  right  to  purchase  the  same  shall  inure  to  the  City  every  five  years  thereafter, 
the  City  to  give  twelve  months'  notice  of  its  intention  to  buy. 

The  amended  contract  or  ordinance  was  made  on  January  29th,  1881,  when 
Mr.  J.  H.  French  was  mayor,  and  when  Mr.  Brack enridge  had  acquired  the  con- 
trol of  the  Water  Works  Company,  he  being  President  of  the  Company  at  that 
date.  The  features  of  the  amendment  were  the  relinquishment  by  the  City  of  the 
rental  of  $500  per  annum,  that  the  Company  was  to  pay  taxes  on  an  assessment 
up  to  the  amount  of  $250,000,  and  that  at  the  expiration  of  the  contract  if  the 
City  should  ' '  avail  itself  of  the  right  to  purchase,  and  the  parties  cannot  agree  as 
to  price,  the  matter  is  to  be  decided  by  arbitration." 

To  return  to  the  work  done  by  J.  B.  lyacoste  and  associates  under  the  original 
contract.  Credit  must  be  given  to  the  first  engineer  of  the  works,  Mr.  W.  R. 
Freeman,  for  the  simple  and  effective  scheme  to  utilize  the  water  power  of  the 
River  to  pump  the  water  of  the  Head  to  a  still  higher  level,  to  obtain  sufficient 
pressure.  The  reservoir,  was  not  constructed  upon  the  site  originally  selected, 
but  on  the  summit  of  a  higher  hill  in  the  eastern  vicinity  of  the  Head  of  the 
River.  The  raceway,  however,  was  constructed  as  designed  without  interfering 
to  any  appreciable  degree  with  the  supply  of  water  to  the  irrigation  ditches. 
And  the  turbines  did  good  service  for  many  years.  The  works  were  duly 
finished  under  the  original  contract,  and  upon  completion,  they  were  tested  and 
re-tested,  and  on  July  5th,  1878,  Mr.  J.  P.  Newcomb,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Water  Works,  etc.,  reported  to  the  Council  that  the  Water  Works  had 
been  duly  finished  on  July  3d,  1878,  and  recommended  that  the  following  reso- 
lution be  adopted  :  "  Resolved,  That  the  City  of  San  Antonio  hereby  formally 
accept  the  Water  Works  constructed  by  J.  B.  Lacoste  and  associates  under  the 
contract  made  with  the  City  under  Section  560  of  Digest  of  Revised  Ordinances. 
This  acceptance  to  date  from  3d  day  of  July,  1878."  This  report  and  the 
accompanying  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  July  5th,  1S78. 

There  was  for  some  time  but  poor  patronage  for  the  Water  Works.  People 
had  to  be  educated  to  the  importance  of  their  new  acquisition.  Prejudice  had  to 
be  overcome.  Mr.  Lacoste  disposed  of  his  interest,  and  the  Works  took  a  new  lease 
of  life  under  the  Brackenridge  rule.  With  a  serene  faith  in  the  future  of  the 
City,  Mr.  Brackenridge  has  yearly  put  and  advised  his  Company  to  put  thousands 


56  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BIvXAR. 

and  thousands  of  dollars  underground,  until  to-day  the  City  has  a  vast  network 
of  iron  pipes. 

For  several  years  there  have  been  factions,  each  having  a  different  opinion 
as  to  the  proper  mode  of  settling  this  question  as  to  the  ownership  of  the  Works. 
For  a  long  time  previous  to  1885  attacks  on  the  validity  of  the  contract  were 
constant  from  certain  quarters.  This,  however,  was  temporarily  set  at  rest  by  an 
exhaustive  opinion  by  Mr.  S.  G.  Newton,  who  was  City  Attorney  in  that  year. 
He  decided  :  "  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  City  Administration  was  authorized 
under  its  Charter  to  make  the  contract,  and  that  the  contract  contains  no  pro- 
visions that  invalidate  it."  Others  again  now  advocate  that  the  City  should  con- 
demn the  property.  This  policy  could  not  be  defended  upon  any  just  ground, 
for  it  behooves  a  City  Council  or  Corporation  to  be  as  just  and  honest  as  the  indi- 
vidual. The  purchase  of  the  Water  Works  is,  as  we  go  to  press,  the  burning 
question  of  the  hour.  An  offer  from  the  San  Antonio  Water  Works  to  sell  the 
Works  for  $2,000,000  is  before  the  people.  Mayor  Callaghan  with  characteristic 
foresight  is  strongly  in  favor  of  the  purchase.  Being  a  man  of  progress  and  hav- 
ing in  view  first  and  foremost  the  best  interests  of  the  City,  he  urges  upon  the 
citizens  the  necessity  of  a  system  of  sewers.  Such  a  work  he  argues  cannot  be 
economically  carried  out  unless  the  control  of  water  is  in  the  hands  of  the  own- 
ers of  the  system  of  sewers.  Water  is  indispensable  to  the  best  systems. 
"Recognizing,"  he  says,  "the  growing  needs  of  the  citizens  for  proper  sewage 
works,"  he  held,  "that  a  water  supply  was  of  utmost  necessity  and  consideration, 
and  to  this  end  he  would  urge  the  purchase  of  the  Water  Works  plant."  The 
citizens  trust  him.  Nothing  he  has  done  has  forfeited  this  confidence.  He  has 
done  much  to  win  it.  Yet  no  one  knows  better  than  he  that  from  some  quarters 
he  will  get  hard  knocks  for  his  pains.  No  one  cares  less  for  hard  knocks  when  he 
thinks  himself  to  be  in  the  right.  It  is  this  independent  and  progressive  spirit 
that  has  earned  for  him  a  long  lease  of  the  Mayor's  seat.  A  lease  that  is  not 
likely  soon  to  expire  unless  he  seeks  or  has  thrust  upon  him  the  honor  of  repre- 
senting this  district  in  the  National  Congress.  His  influence  is  almost  an 
assurance  that  the  purchase  will  be  favorably  voted  upon  by  the  citizens  on  Sep- 
tember 80th.  It  has  been  shown  how  on  a  former  occasion,  the  citizens  by 
opposing  a  farseeing  Mayor  (Thielepape  in  1872),  upon  a  similar  question,  in  a 
great  measure  sowed  the  seeds  of  the  harvest  that  to-day  has  to  be  gathered.  It 
is  wisest  to  make  the  best  of  the  crop  as  it  stands. 

It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  sketch  to  discuss  the  financial  aspect  of  the 
cjuestion.  r>ut  it  occurs  that  the  Water  Works  enjoys  a  large  income  (which  has 
hitherto  been  spent  in  developing),  therefore  the  purchase  could  not  actually  be  a 
burden  on  the  City^  although  theorists  would  try  so  to  prove.  Not  to  mention 
the  value  of  Real  Estate  which  the  offer  includes.  Many  of  the  City's  influential 
men  favor  the  project.  The  question  is  to  be  decided  by  a  vote  of  the  tax-pay- 
ers, on  September  .'50th.  18i)().  Mr.  Hrackenridge  in  a  recent  interview,  e.xpressed 
himself  decidedly    as  follows  : 

"Now,  the  stockholders,  after  sowing-  for  thirteen  years,  with  the  hope  of 
ultimately  harvesting,  think  it  a  little  lianl  that  their  large  expenditure  of 
patience  and  money  should   be  met  ))>■  public  clamor,  as  though  they  had  perpe- 


Till-:  SAX   ANTONIO   RI\];r.  :.7 

trated  some  i;rc'at  wroiii;-  upon  Ihc  coiniuunity,  instead  of  liavini;-  added  a  \aliial)le 
and  necessary  property  to  the  City.  Yet  they  Ijelieve  stron^rly  in  the  justice 
of  mankind  and  feel  confident  that  the  stockholders  of  the  Water  Works  will  be 
permitted  to  reap  the  benefits  which  they  feel  are  due  them.  vShould  it  be  con- 
sidered necessary  for  the  public  good  to  deprive  them  of  their  property,  and 
rights  under  their  franchise,  they  think  they  will  be  honestly  and  fairly  dealt 
with." 

"  The  Water  Works  were  constructed  in  1^77,  at  a  time  when  the  City  was 
unwilling  or  unable  to  do  anything,  and  the  citizens  would  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  scheme,  giving  it  neither  countenance  nor  credit,  believing  that  it  would 
be  a  very  great  advantage  to  the  city,  and  of  little  benefit  to  the  stockholders. 
These  were,  I  believe,  the  views  entertained  by  very  nearly  all  the  citizens, 
including  myself.  At  present  the  Company  is  completing  what  the  stockholders 
hoped  would  be  the  last  large  addition  in  the  plant,  necessary  to  be  made  during 
the  continuance  of  its  contract  with  the  city.  I  can  say  truly,  that,  so  far,  they 
have  received  less  interest  on  their  investment  than  any  citizen  in  San  Antonio 
would  be  willing  to  accept,  even  upon  the  most  undoubted  and  infallible  invest- 
ment. There  has  been  paid  them  less  than  2  per  cent,  per  annum  upon  the  amount 
invested  to  the  present  time.  For  the  first  seven  years  the  officers  contented 
themselves  to  work  without  salaries.  I  traveled  over  the  country  at  my  own 
expense  to  make  contracts  for  pipe  and  material." 

These  articles  on  the  Head  of  the  River  and  the  Water  Works  are  inserted  in 
this  work  in  the  belief  that,  whether  the  vote  goes  for  or  against  the  purchase,  the 
historical  matter  they  contain  vrill  be  of  more  than  mere  passing  interest. 


San  Antonio  as  a  Health  Resort. 

"If  a  mail  wants  to  die  there  he  must  go  somewhere  else." 

— Gi;o.  WiLKiNS  Kendall,  1813. 

To  those  that  are  affected  with  throat  and  lung  troubles,  San  Antonio  and 
its  vicinity  undoubtedly  stand  pre-eminent  in  interest  at  the  head  of  the  li.st  of 
the  health  resorts  of  this  continent;  its  pure  and  dry  air,  and  the  facilities  its 
neighborhood  affords  for  obtaining  varied  temperatures,  in  the  high  lands  North, 
or  the  low  lands  South  to  suit  the  subject  or  case,  are  advantages  which  speak 
for  themselves. 

The  editor  of  this  Guide  was  anxious  to  obtain  what  he  felt  to  be  a  disinter- 
ested estimate  of  these  advantages,  and  found  it  when  least  expecting  it;  he  gives 
an  old  opinion,  but  he  feels  it  to  be  the  better  for  the  thirty  years  during  which 
it  has  been  put  to  the  proof.  It  stands  as  just  to-day  as  when  it  was  written, 
and  has  everything  to  recommend  it  to  health-seekers.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
it  does  not  touch  upon  one  important  item,  the  northers.  Our  northers  have 
been  much  noised  about,  and  the  rapid  changes  that  these  boisterous  visitors 
cau.se  during  our  .short  winter,  have  been  much  objected  to.  The  writer's  eight 
years  of  experience  has  taught  him  that  their  bark  is  far  worse  than  their  bite; 
that  in  the  .severest  .stress  it  is  never  quite  so  cold  as  it  seems;  the  wind  is  cer- 
tainly trying  as  long  as  it  lasts,  but  out  of  the  wind,  and  you  are  out  of  the 
Norther.  They  are  easily  avoided  if  an  invalid  desires  to  do  so,  all  one  has  to 
do  is  to  keep  indoors,  they  are  invariably  of  short  duration,  lasting  three  or  four 
days  at  most  at  a  time:  they  come  very  suddenly,  it  is  true,  but  they  assudddenly 
leave,  and  it  should  be  remembered  by  visitors  that  they  always  come  from  a 
northerly  direction,  necessarily  therefore,  from  a  much  colder  climate  than  our 
own  Sunny  South.  The  longer  one  lives  in  Texas  the  better  he  likes  the  North- 
ers; they  are  to  a  Texan  an  impersonation  almost  of  everything  that  is  l^racing 
and  invigorating,  and  they  are  oftener  welcomed  with  a  leap  and  a  whistle  than 
met  with  complainings. 

The  extracts  that  follow  further  on,  are  from  a  letter  written  many  years 
ago  l)y  an  invalid  who  had  .sought  San  Antonio  as  a  health  resort,  and  who  appar- 
ently found  relief.  The  letter  was  ])nblislied  as  far  back  as  1S.")S  in  T.ie  New 
Orleans  Crescent.  It  furnishes,  an  unl)ia.sed  and  independent  opinion  by  one 
who  had  had  much  experience,  of  the  restorative  qualities  of  the  climate  ot  San 
Antonio,  all  the  more  unbiased  and  telling  if  it  is  considered  that  the  climate 
was  at  that  time  pa.s.sing  through  its  i)r()l)ali()nary  ])eriod,  and  that  to-day.  more 
than  thirty  years  after,  vSan  Anloiiio  stands  unchallenged  as  a  resort,  tnic(iualled 
for  restorative  (pialities  for  Iuiil;  and  llnoat  troiibk-s.  'iMic  leUer  is  ,L;i\en  almost 
as  it  stands  in  the  old  file,  only  such  i)aragr;)i)iis  are  eliminated  as  .sjK-ak  di.spar- 
agingly  of  certain  malarial  di.stricts  of  vSoutheast  Texas,  of  the  .stages,  "which  are 


SAN  ANTONIO  AS  A    IIl-Al/ni    RlvSORT.  59 

runiiin,<;  (lail\-  :ui(l  \vc'ekl\"  [and  wliioli  have  long  aj^o  .given  place  to  the  iron 
horse,]  and  of  the  "white  lime  dust  that  is  confined  entirely  to  the  business  por- 
tion of  San  Antonio,  and  which  does  not  affect  the  outskirts,  which  present  within 
an  area  of  six  miles  the  best  situation  which  I  have  seen  for  the  enjoyment  of 
pure  air,  and  cool  and  refreshing  breezes."  This  "white  lime  dust"  has  never 
existed  to  the  younger  generation  in  San  Antonio,  and  is  an  utter  impossibility 
in  the  business  portions  of  a  now  important  city,  which  are  paved,  some,  with  mes- 
([uite  blocks,  some,  macadamized,  and  all  kept  thoroughly  well  sprinkled. 

The  writer  is  spoken  of  as  being  "a  citizen  of  Mol)ile,  and  has  no  other 
interest  in  the  subject  matter  than  to  disseminate  truth  for  the  general  benefit." 

"July  2oth,  1858. 
Editor.s  ok  thic  Ckk.scknt: 

The  superiority  of  the  climate  of  Western  Texas  over  that  of  other  sections, 
w^hich  have  heretofore  been  resorted  to  for  the  cure  of  pulmonary  diseases  is 
certainly  very  great.  To  me  it  is  the  most  important  feature  which  Texas  pre- 
sents. I  have  experienced  to  a  limited  extent  its  curative  influence;  and,  from 
what  I  have  seen,  felt,  and  heard  of  it,  1  am  inducetl  to  believe  that  if  fully 
understood  and  appreciated  by  the  country  at  large,  Western  Texas  would  speed- 
ily become  the  most  favored  resort  on  the  Continent  for  persons  affiicted  with 
diseases  of  the  throat  and  lungs. 

As  far  l)ack  as  I  can  remember  the  Medical  Faculty  of  the  United  States 
have  been  in  the  habit  of  recommending  patients  affiicted  with  pulmonary  disease 
to  cross  the  ocean,  or  take  a  trip  on  the  sea — to  visit  Cuba,  or  take  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Florida,  or  some  other  Southern  state.  The  discovery  of  Gold  in 
California  led  to  the  discovery  of  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  rarified  atmosphere 
of  the  plains  on  pulmonary  diseases.  Many  ca.ses  of  laryngitis,  bronchitis  and  of 
confirmed  consumption  were  said  to  have  been  entirely  cured  by  crossing  the 
Continent  to  California.  The  facts  sustained  by  reports  received  since  from  the 
interior  of  Asia,  have  roused  the  Medical  Faculty,  and  the  result  is  that  the  most 
intelligent  of  them  now  believe  that  sea  breezes  and  hmnid  atmosphere  are  very 
injurious  in  cases  of  pulmonary  disease,  and  that  the  best  localities  for  them  are 
those  where  rarified  atmosphere  prevails. 

vSuch  localities  are  not  to  be  found  near  the  Atlantic  or  (iulf  coasts.  The 
atmosphere  there  is  necessarily  humid  and  of  course  too  heavy  for  the  weak  lungs 
of  a  consumptive  to  respire  with  ease.  It  is  also  impregnated  with  salt  which  is 
extremely  irritating  to  the  throat  and  lungs.  It  is  said  that  in  the  interior  of 
Cuba  and  of  Florida,  this  irritating  atmosphere  does  not  exist.  This  may  l)e  cor- 
rect, but  in  its  stead  is  a  malarious  atmosphere  which  keei)s  the  consumptive  in 
continual  fever  and  thus  accelerates  his  disease.  Humidity,  too,  in  both  Cul)a 
and  Florida,  cannot  be  otherwi.se  than  great.  The  water  which  surrounds  them 
and  is  held  in  their  soils  and  on  their  surfaces  is  sufficient  to  prove  this.  In  fact, 
there  is  no  place  in  the  Gulf  or  Carribbean  .sea,  nor  within  one  thou.sand  miles 
of  our  Atlantic  coast,  that  presents  .so  favorable  a  climate  for  tho.se  who  are 
afflicted  wath  pulmonary  di.sea.se  as  Western  Texas.  I  know  this  to  be  true.  I 
speak  from  experience. 


60  SAX  ANTONIO  DE  BKXAR. 

For  three  years  before  my  arrival  in  Western  Texas,  I  was  afflicted  with 
larvn^i^itis.  Dnrin<^  that  period  I  tried  various  localities  on  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf 
coasts,  and  in  the  interior  of  Florida  and  other  states,  and  I  found  that  the  farther 
I  removed  from  the  sea,  and  from  lakes,  ponds,  swamps,  and  rich  cultivated 
soils,  the  better  I  felt.  When  exposed  to  winds  which  blew  over  swamps,  river 
bottoms,  or  still  bodies  of  water,  I  invariably  experienced  a  choking  sensation. 
At  all  times  and  in  all  places  I  suffered  in  proportion  to  the  humidity  of  the  sur- 
rounding atmosphere.  So  sensitive  was  my  throat  to  dampness  that  I  could  tell 
the  approach  of  rain,  even  before  there  was  any  apparent  indication  of  it  in  the 
heavens.  When  the  atmosphere  was  dense  and  heavy  with  moisture,  my  throat 
was  clogged  with  mucus;  hut  when  it  was  dry,  the  mucus  did  not  cling  with 
such  tenacity  to  the  membrane,  and  there  was  less  of  it.  This,  together  with  my 
experience  in  medical  remedies,  induced  me  to  believe  that  nothing  but  a  dry, 
rarified  atmosphere  would  restore  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  larNaix  to  health}- 
action.  Unfortunately  for  me,  I  was  not  governed  by  that  discovery  until  the 
disease  had  reached  my  lungs.  After  being  confined  to  my  bed  three  months,  on 
the  coast,  I  set  out  for  San  Antonio.  On  my  arrival  there  I  was  very  weak  and 
feeble,  suffered  niiich  from  pain  in  my  lungs,  and  was  not  able  to  do  anything 
which  required  any  physical  strength. 

I  am  now,  after  a  lapse  of  two  months,  able  to  walk  two  miles  without  being 
fatigued,  and  can  write  about  three  hours  each  day.  This  improvement  I  attribute 
to  the  purer,  dry,  light  atmosphere  which  prevails  here  the  greater  part  of  the 
time.  M}'  improvement,  however,  has  not  been  so  rapid  as  that  of  manj-  others 
of  whom  I  have  heard.  This  may  be  in  consequence  of  difference  in  the  natural 
strength  of  constitution.  ********** 

That  the  atmosphere  is  usiially  dry  and  light  there  can  be  no  doubt.  The 
intense,  piercing  heat  of  the  sun,  the  quick  changes  of  rain  clouds  from  black  to 
white,  and  their  sudden  expansion  as  they  pass  over  the  land  towards  the  West, 
together  with  many  other  things,  such  as  the  impossi])ility  of  producing  mildew, 
etc.,  prove  it.  ******** 

If  the  atmosphere  here  should  not  prove  to  be  dry  enough  for  particular 
cases,  excellent  facilities  are  afforded  for  removal  westwardly  where  the  rarefac- 
tion increases  in  proportation  to  the  distance  traveled  towards  the  "Colorado 
Desert,"  which  affords  the  lightest  and  driest  atmosphere  on  the  Continent.  If 
the  temperature  should  be  too  high  for  other  cases  a  lower  temperature  can  l)e 
found  by  proceeding  northwardly  to  the  mountainous  country.  At  a  distance  of 
sevent}'  miles  is  Frederick.sburg,  which,  according  to  its  elevation  above  and  dis- 
tance from  San  Antonio,  is,  in  temperature,  equal  to  .seven  and  two-thirds  degrees 
further  north.  And  there  are  many  other  places  of  much  greater  altitude  within 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  San  Antonio.          *  *  *  *  * 

It  is  not  change  of  temperature  which  the  consumptive  needs,  but  a  light, 
dry  atmosphere,  free  from  irritating  and  feveri.sh  influences."  *  *         * 

Remarking  upon  this  letter,  Dr.  Cupples  said:  "That  is,  I  tliink,  a  pretty 
fair  estimate  of  the  case,  for  a  layman.  He  did  not  know  enough  about  the  sub- 
ject to  speak  cpiite  correctly,  for  instance,  salt  is  not  irritating  to  the  throat  and 
lungs  in  such  a  form,    thai    is   to   sa\-,    naturall\-   in    llu-   air.    and    il   corrects   the 


5^0MK  OV  TTII-:  RI'SC^rRCI'S  OK  WI'STI-RX  TlCXAS. 


C.l 


liuinidily,  which  is  ;ui  advantage.  I  believe  the  suinnier  heat  is  somewhat  inju- 
rious, not  so  much  on  account  of  its  intensity,  ])ut  tlie  (hiration  of  it — it  becomes 
weari.some  to  an  invalid.  The  northers  need  not  be  considered— they  are  not 
really  .so  cold  as  they  .seem,  and  as  you  say,  they  are  invigorating  and  bracing, 
especially  to  those  acclimated.  San  Antonio  is  a  desirable  winter  resort  for 
invalids.  The  winter  climate  is  good.  As  to  northers,  if  anyone  is  afraid  of 
them — there  being  always  a  warning  before  a  norther — it  is  easy  to  avoid  them 
by  staying  indoors.  The  advantages  of  otir  climate  are,  freedom  from  colds,  and 
the  fact  that  all  of  our  houses  are  freely  and  naturally  ventilated,  the  average 
weather  permitting  all  of  our  windows  and  doors  to  be  left  cou.stantly  open, 
insuring  pure  air." 


Some  of  the  Resources  of  Western  Texas. 


In  presenting  any  remarks  on  the  subject  of  this  title,  in  a  work  of  the 
pre.sent  character,  it  is  important  to  avoid  injudicious  exploiting  and  rash  state- 
ments. 

The  following  observations  aim  simply  to  describe  the  face  of  the  country  as 
it  actually  is,  and  not  to  draw  immature  bills  on  the  future  or  to  anticipate,  by 
one  jot,  the  prosperity  it  is  destined  to  enjoy.  Many  statistics  have  been  pur- 
posely avoided,  and  the  reader  is  presented  with  an  idea  of  the  country,  which  is 
the  fruit  of  ten  years'  journeyings  throughout  its  length  and  breadth. 

This  article  must  be  confined  to  sojhc  of  the  Resources  of  Western  Texas.  The 
title  is  both  vast  and  vague.  For  the  Resources  are  but  partially  known  and 
.still  less  developed,  whilst  the  region  itself  is  a  somewhat  indeterminate 
Geographical  expression. 


62  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

As  a  fair  generalization  we  will  discuss  the  country-  lying  west  of  the  Colo- 
rado. By  a  glance  at  the  map,  this  will  be  seen  to  be  a  great  plain,  sloping  from 
the  northwest  to  the  southeast,  and  drained  by  the  following  principal  rivers, 
flowing — with  the  exception  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Rio  Grande — in  the  direc- 
tion indicated.  They  are  the  Colorado,  Concho,  San  Saba,  Elano  and  Per- 
denalis,  Guadalupe  and  San  Marcos,  the  San  Antonio  and  Medina,  the  Frio, 
Sabinal,  Nueces,  Los  Moras,  San  Felipe,  Devil's  River,  the  Pecos  and  Rio 
Grande. 

Nearly  all  these  streams  head  in  bold  springs  of  the  clearest  water,  whose 
banks  are  of  great  natural  beauty  and  whose  volume  never  varies. 

In  the  lower  counties,  the  Frio,  Sabinal  and  Nueces  sometimes  disappear 
from  the  surface  in  extremely  dry  weather.  They,  however,  continue  to  flow 
underground  and  alwaj^s  maintain  abundant  pools  for  stock  and  other  purposes. 
These  valleys  are  agricultural — more  especially  the  eastern  ones — and  with 
occasional  irrigation,  such  as  is  practiced  at  San  Antonio  and  some  points  on  the 
Rio  Grande,  might  become  the  granary  of  the  continent. 

The  intervening  prairies  are  given  up  mostly  to  stock-raising,  and  are  the 
finest  breeding  grounds  of  the  world. 

All  of  this  immense  territory  has  more  or  less  intimate  relations  with  the 
City  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  which  has  ever  been  the  nursing  mother  of  its 
phenomenal  growth. 

So  true  a  parent  has  San  Antonio  been  to  this  region,  that,  even  within  the 
past  ten  years,  happenings  and  belongings  anywhere  within  its  borders  have 
always  had  a  local  savor  in  the  streets  of  "  Santone."  Was  it  a  cattle  trade  or  a 
round-up  ?  a  death  or  a  wedding  ?  all  the  way  from  here  to  El  Paso  or  eke  the 
coast  or  the  Lower  Rio  Grande,  the  parties  and  incidents  were  discussed  with 
quite  a  personal  interest  and  knowledge.     And  so  it  is  to  some  extent  to-day. 

The  evolution  of  this  broad  land  has  been  somewhat  after  this  manner  : 
Twenty  years  ago  the  country  was  a  rolling  prairie,  with  occasional  islands  of 
timber  giving  in  places  a  park-like  appearance  to  the  landscape,  and  under  these 
clumps  of  Live  Oak,  Hackberry  or  Mesquite,  the  stock  of  many  owners  gathered 
for  .shade  and  rumination.  The  valley's  and  caiaons  which  we  have  already 
de.scribed  were  filled  with  a  thicker  growth  of  Pecan,  Elm,  Cypress  and  Cedar, 
the  trees  festooned  with  wild  grapes  and  other  vines.  There  are,  too,  great  belts 
of  Post  Oak. 

The  roads  were  prairie  trails  of  immen.se  width,  crossing  the  streams  at  fords 
which,  .sometimes,  were  not  fordable.  The.se  roads  led  by  stage  stands,  frontier 
posts  and  villages  and  to  the  small  ports  on  the  coast.  There  were  daily  stages 
North,  South,  Ea.st  and  West,  and  endless  wagon  trains,  drawn  by  many  oxen 
and  mules  and  driven  by  i)icture.sque  Mexicans  armed  to  the  teeth,  with  a  view 
to  Indians. 

The  outgoings  and  incomings  of  these  wayfayers  made  neighl)ors  ol  the 
whole  province  of  their  travels,  even  far  into  Mexico,  whose  trade  with  Texas 
has  always  been  extensive. 


vSOMK  OI-   Tin-    RI'SOURCIvS  OI'    Wl'STlCRX   TlvXAS.  08 

After  a  while  came  the  stoppage  of  the  prairie  fires,  from  the  increased  value 
of  the  nutritious  mes(iuite  grass,  and  the  consequent  rai)id  growth  of  the  niesquite 
underbrush,  which  now  nearly  covers  the  middle  portion  o!  the  district,  affording 
more  protection  for  stock  and  an  edible  hean  for  both  cattle  and  horses.  The 
various  kinds  of  cacti  also  became  much  more  luxuriant. 

In  the  seventies,  fencing  began  in  the  vSouth,  but  this  revolution  of  the  .stock 
interests  from  the  primitive  "  round-uj) "  only  fairl\-  set  in  during  the  eighties, 
and  at  the  present  time  it  is  almo.st  complete  in  the  more  de.sirable  pasture  lands. 

With  the  barbed-wire  fence  came  the  railway  and  the  hoe,  the  agents  of  a 
still  newer  revolution  now  going  rapidly  forward. 

Formerly  the  Colorado  was  thought  to  mark  the  western  limit  of  farming  in 
Texas.  Undoubtedly  the  .seasons  have  improved  with  the  country,  and  vice 
versa,  for  farming  is  now  carried  on,  even  without  irrigation,  throughout  the  ter- 
ritory mider  di.scussion,  cotton,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  millet,  sorghinn  and  sugar 
cane  being  raised  in  more  or  less  abundance.*  With  irrigation  the  agricultural 
wealth  of  this  country  would  be  incalculable,  and  at  a  very  conservative  estimate 
would maintain  in  affluence  and  humble  comfort  20, 000, 000  people.  The  present 
population  of  this  section  is  certainly  not  one-twentieth  of  that  number. 

Let  us  see  how  this  future  may  be  ])rovided  for  by  glancing  at  our  present 
resources. 

The  general  character  of  the  country  is  still  pastoral  and  the  staples  are 
cattle,  sheep,  horses,  wool  and  hides.  On  the  coa.st  are  exten.sive  oyster  and 
other  fisheries,  particularly  the  delicate  red  fish,  a  dainty  denizen  of  the  lagoons. 

The  increasing  growth  of  Cotton  is  enormous  and  although  not  a  staple  of 
Western  Texas  proper,  it  is  rapidly  becoming  .so. 

Below  are  .some  figures  for  1889  for  the  market  of  San  Antonio  only  : 

Horses,  70,000  head;  cattle,  84,000  head;  sheep,  1  (JO, 000  head;  wool, 
7,000,000  pounds  ;t  hides,  2,000,000  pounds  ;  cotton,  12,000  l)ales.:|; 

With  such  an  abundance  of  raw  material  at  our  doors,  it  is  natural  to  con- 
sider the  question  of  power  for  their  manufacture. 

The  City  of  Austin  is  engaged  in  a  gigantic  scheme  for  a  dam  on  the  Colo- 
rado, estimated  to  cost  nearly  SI  ,-")00,0()0.  There  is  a  fine  site  at  Columbus,  on 
the  same  River. 

On  the  Guadalupe  are  innumerable  opportunities  to  establish  power, 
especially  at  New  Braunfels  and  vSeguin.  A  fine  i)ower  is  already  established  at 
San  Marcos,  and  also  at  Marble  I'alls. 

^  To  produce  such  crops  implies  a  varied  soil,  limestoiif  liills,  alluvial  valleys,  wide  stretches  of  sandy  loam 
and  "  black  waxy,"  dec])  river  bottoms  and  in  the  Post  Oaks  aud  lilack  Jacks  some  sandy  and  gravelly  lands, 
These  are  the  soils  of  Western  Texas. 

t  Wool— IST'),  .'JOO.CMX)  pounds  ;  1S7G,  400,000  pounds  ;  ls77,  it  suddenly  sprang  to  2,287,241  pounds.  This  in- 
crease was  probably  owing  to  the  increase  of  flocks  and  to  the  new  railroad  facilities  of  San  .Antonio.  The  ship- 
ments have  steadily  grown  year  by  year  to  the  present  large  market  of  ISSO. 

1 12,000  bales  local  wagon  receipts,  inclnding  country  consignments  by  rail  would  probably  amount  to  20,000 
bales,  and  the  amount  of  cotton  handled  by  San  .\ntonio  merchants,  by  order  and  otherwise,  would  not  be  less, 
say,  than  a  total  of  120,000  bales.  The  Mexican  cotton  trade  was  almost  the  only  cotton  business  here  for  the 
years  previous  to  ISSl.  In  this  year  the  Mexican  market  was  .iOOO  bales  and  the  next  season  shows  the  first  nota- 
ble increase  in  the  San  .\ntonio  market,  on  account,  probably,  of  new  railroad  facilities. 


(U  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

The  San  Antonio  has  many  mills  on  its  banks,  and  its  capacity  for  water- 
power  is  everything  that  could  be  desired. 

Coal-mines  are  being  extensivelj'  worked  at  Eagle  Pass  and  Laredo,  on  the 
frontier,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Antonio.  There  is  also  a  fine  seam  in  the 
Eagle  Spring  Mountains,  near  the  junction  of  the  Southern  and  Texas  Pacific 
Railways. 

Iron  ore  of  great  purity  and  inexhaustible  quantity  is  found  at  Llano  with  a 
fine  Lime-stone  flux  immediately  adjacent.  In  the  same  neighborhood  and  sur- 
rounding counties  are  many  beautiful  marbles  and  granite  of  the  hardest  texture. 
Got)d  clay  of  various  colors  is  abundant  and  brick-making  is  extensively  carried 
on  in  Laredo,  Eagle  Pass,  San  Antonio  and  vicinity  and  many  other  places. 

In  Uvalde  county  are  deposits  of  guano  and  kaolin  ;  asphaltum  has  been 
found  in  many  localities,  and  lately  while  boring  for  artesian  water  in  San  An- 
tonio and  its  neighborhood,  both  natural  gas  and  oil  have  been  found. 

Of  the  precious  metals,  Silver  is  being  worked  in  paying  quantities  in  the 
Chinati  mountains.  This  Range,  as  well  as  the  Chisos  and  Diabolo  abound  in 
Galena  ore,  rich  in  Lead  and  Silver. 

There  are  also  strong  indications  of  Copper,  Iron  and  Coal  in  this  moun- 
tainous country  of  the  extreme  West,  but  from  inaccessability  and  lack  of  trans- 
portation, the  subject  has  not  received  adequate  attention.  A  geological  survey- 
of  the  state  is  now  being  made  under  the  direction  of  Prof.  Dumble,  of  Austin, 
from  which  much  additional  light  is  hoped. 

Of  the  Fruits  of  Texas,  the  most  successful  are  the  Fig,  Vine,  Peach  and 
Mulberry.  Melons  of  all  sorts  and  varieties  grow  to  perfection,  together  with  the 
usual  vegetables — maturing  early,  and,  in  fact,  with  care,  a  garden  may  be  main- 
tained all  the  year  around. 

This  brings  us  to  say  a  few  words  about  the  climate  : — There  are  perhaps 
twenty  days  in  the  year,  on  an  average,  that  a  man  cannot  work  out  of  doors. 
The  heat  of  summer  is  tempered  by  a  breeze  from  the  Gulf  which  fans  the  whole 
country  by  -l  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  an  hour  which  would  otherwise  be  the  hot- 
test part  of  the  day.  The  nights  are  always  cool,  and  at  an  elevation  of  1,. ')()() 
feet  a  blanket  is  needed  the  summer  through.  The  official  mean  temperature. 
Post  of  San  Antonio  is  : — Summer,  <S2.4;)°  ;  Winter,  51 .07°  ;  Rainfall  '24  to  ."JG 
inches. 

In  the  Winter  the  northers  are  di.sagreeable  while  they  last,  as  their  duration 
is  generally-  not  longer  than  forty-eight  hours,  the  objection  is  slight. 

The  climate  is  a  good  one,  and  in  conjunction  with  the  counlr\  we  have 
been  briefly  describing,  will  in  a  few  years  rear  a  people  which  will  have  the 
controlling  voice  in  all  our  dealings  with  our  neighbors  to  the  South,  and,  grow 
ing  as  it  must,  in  culture  as  in  material  wealth,  it  will  t)e  a  people  of  ideas,  and 
yet  notlo.se  that  rLSonrcefnl  Western  character  wliich  disposes  of  obstacles  by 
destroying  tliem  and  dissohes  (litricnlties  in  a  solution  of  success. 

As  for  those-  wlio  come  to  IIk-  land  and  grumble  that  everything  is  not 
achieved,  let  them  remend)er,  that,  in  that  e\cnt,  there  would  be  nothing  left  for 
them  to  do. 


I   SELLO        '■;' 

I  1CUARTILL0 
if:i:i:i:i:i:i:i:i;|:riV^ 


^AMOS   DE 

822  Y  2S>. 


iTu:i:i:i:i:i:i:i:i:i: 


5C 


m 


SLLLO 


i;\\ci\Friax^ 


PAHAKlT^lFMIMnDE 


183?  Y  t83S 


;PAMSH    AND    MEXICAN-TKXAS    SKALS. 


LIST  OF  CHARTl'.RS  Ol'   'rill'.  ClTV   oi'   SAX    AXToXIO.  <',r, 

Moreover,  the  generation  passin.t;  away,  has  done  all  the  hard  work.  Pioneer 
heroism  has  finished  its  self  appointed  task.  The  battle  of"  barbarism  and  law- 
lessness has  been  fonght.  The  Indian  and  the  ontlaw  are  ahnost  extinct  and  the 
institutions  of  onr  fathers  are  established. 

We  may  enter  upon  onr  inheritance  in  peace,  and,  in  its  literal  sense,  the 
dweller  in  Western  Texas  may  sit  nnder  his  own  Vine  and  Fig-tree,  fanned  by 
the  cool  (lUlf  breeze,  and  thankfnlly  murmur  to  the  Goddess  of  plenty. 

O    DUI.CE    DOMUM. 


List  of  Charters  and  Amendments  to  the  Same  of  the  City  of 

San  Antonio. 

First.     Charter  granted  by  King  of  Spain  in  17-')->  or  IT-'M. 

Second.  An  act  to  incorporate  the  town  of  Nacogdoches  and  other  towns 
herein  named,  by  the  Republic  of  Texas,  January  o,  is;;7. 

Third.     Act  of  Incorporation,  December  14,  1<S37. 

F'oURTH.     Act  Supplementary,  January  2(5,  18o9. 

Fifth.     Act  of  Incorporation,  January  14,  1S42. 

Sixth.     Act  to  incorporate  the  City  of  San  i^.ntonio,  Jainiary  24,  1S52. 

Seventh.  An  act  to  amend  the  act  of  January  14.  1S42,  November 
26,  1855. 

Eighth       Act  of  Incorporation,  July  17,  ISoG. 

Ninth.     Act  of  Incorporation,  August  lo.  1S7(). 

Tenth.  Amendments  to  Sections  5,  (i,  24,  ;!o,  4(i,  V-W ,  V\'\  ls'->,  2;:(),  made 
by  the  people  at  an  election  held  December  15,  1S74. 

Eleventh.  Amendments  to  Sections  5,  24.  4;>,  45,  April  IS,  1,S7!),  by 
Sixteenth  Legislature. 

Twelfth.     Amendments  of  March  4,  1885. 


(ifi  SAN  ANTONIO   DI*    BKXAR. 

List  of  Mayors  of  the  City  of  San  Antonio. 

I-KOM    ITS    INCOKI'OKATIOX,    JlNK,     1837,    TO    JANUARY,   ISlllt. 

September  ID,  1887,  to  March  '.),  1S;5S— Mayor,  John  W.  Smith  (all  the  aldermen 
and  city  officers  are  Mexicans). 

March  D,  ls;i,S,  to  July  20,  1 8;!S— Mayor,  William  H.  Dangerfield. 

July  '20,  1<S;},S,  to  January  S,  1S3*,) — Mayor  pro  tem,  Antonio  Menchaca. 

January  S,  1S;59,  to  January  S,  1840 — Mayor,  S.  A.  Maverick. 

January  8,  1840.  to  January  9,  1841 — Mayor,  John  W.  Smith. 

January  9,  1841,  to  April  18,  1842— Mayor,  Juan  N.  Seguin  (died  September, 
1S90,  at  New  Laredo.  From  August  17,  1841,  to  September  7,  1841,  Francis 
Guilbcau,  Mayor  pro  tem. ). 

April  18,  1842,  to  March  80,  1844— Mayor,  John  W.  Smith. 

March  :)0,  1S44,  to  February  18,  1845— Mayor,  Edward  Dwyer. 

February  18,  l.s4r),  to  January  1,  1846 — Mayor,  Edward  Dwyer. 

January  1,  1846,  to  January  1,  1847— Mayor,  Bryan  Callaghan  (C.  F.  King,  pro 
tem). 

January  1,  1.S47,  to  January  1,  1848— Mayor,  Charles  F.  King,  (and  from  Jan- 
uary 27,  1847.  to  January  1,  1848,  S.  S.  Smith,  pro  tem). 

January  1,  1848  to  January  1,  1849— Mayor,  Chas.  F.  King,  (and  from  April  3, 
1848  to  January  1,  1849,  S.  S.  Smith,  pro  tem.) 

January  1,  1S49,  to  January  1,  I8o0 — Mayor,  J.  M.  Devine. 

January  1,  1850,  to  January  1,  1851— Mayor,  J.  M.  Devine. 

January  1,  1851  to  January  1,  1852— Mayor.  J.  S.  McDonald. 

January  1,  1852,  to  January  1,  1S5;) — Mayor,  C.  F.  King. 

January  1,  1S5.'),  to  January  1,  1854 — Mayor,  J.  M.  Devine. 

January  1.  1.S54,  to  January  1,  1855 — Mayor,  John  M.  Carolan. 

January  1,  ls55,  to  January  1,  1856 — Mayor,  James  R.  Sweet. 

January  1.  1S56,  to  the  first  Monday  of  January,  1^57-  Mayor.  J.  M.  Devine. 

January  1,  1857,  to  June  30,  1857 — Mayor,  J.  M.  Devine. 

June  5,   l.s.")7,  to  June  30,  1S57 — Mayor  pro  tem,  J.  li.  Beck. 

July  1,  1.S57,  to  Januar}-  1.  1S5S — Mayor,  A.  A.  Eockwood. 

January  1,  1858,  to  Januar\-  1,  1859 — Mayor,  A.  A.  Eockwood. 

January  1,  1^59,  to  Januar\-  1.  lS(i() — Mayor,  James  R.  Sweet. 

January  1.   isil'),  to  January  I,   isdl — Mayor.  James  R.  Sweet. 

Jcuuiary  i,   lS(il,  to  January  1,   1 S62 — Mayor,  James  R.  Sweet. 

January  1,  1862,  to    May     2(i,  1862 — Mayor,  James  R.  Sweet. 


LIST  OF  MAYORS.  67 

May2(>,  1S(;2,  to  January  1,  lS(i;V-Mayor,  S.  A.  Maverick. 
January  1,  ISC.:'.,  to  January  1,  ISC.J— Mayor,  P.  L.  I'.uciuor. 
January  1.  ISCi,  to  January  1,  ISC).')— Mayor,  P.  L.  I'.uquor. 

January  1,  ISIi."),  to  October   1,  ISC,.")— Mayor,  J.  II.  Lyons,  to   August  1',,  1S(;5  ; 
Mayor  pro  teni,  from  August  1")  to  October  i),  ISC..',,  C.  F.  Fisher. 

APPOINTlvES   OF    GOVERNOR    HAMILTON,    PROVISIOXAI,    COVKRNOR    Ol'    TICXAS. 

From  October,  i),  18()5,  to  August  2;},  1SG6— Mayor,  I).  Cleveland. 
Old  officers  reinstated  by  act  of  Legislature,  from  August  21,  isci;,  to   December 
:\\,  1S(;<; — Mayor,  J.  H.  Lyons. 

CHARTER    ELECTION. 
January  1.  lS(i7.  to  November  S,  18()7 — Mayor,  J.  II.  Lyons. 

Military  appointees,  by  Colonel  J.  J.  Reynolds,  U.  S.    Army,  November  S,  ISC.T, 
to  March  2S,  ISTO— Mayor,  W.  C  A.  Thielepape. 

APPOINTMENTS     OP     E.    J.     DAVIS,      GOVERNOR,      UNDER     ENABLING     ACT,     FROM 

:\iARCH  2S,   1870,  to  November  12,   1872. 
Mayor  W.  C.  A.  Thielepape— From  March  28,  1870,  to  March  12,  1S72. 
Mayor  S.  G.  Newton— From  March  l-'i,  1872,  to  November  12,  1872. 

CHARTER    ELECTION. 
November  lo,  1872,  to  January  VA,  1878 — Mayor,  F\  Giraud. 
January  11,  1S7."!,  to  January  19,  187-") — Mayor,  F.  Giraud. 
January  1'.),  1S7."),  to  January  19,  1877— Mayor,  James  H.  French. 
January  19,  1S77,  to  January  2"),  1879— Mayor,  James  H.  French. 
January  2."),  1879,  to  January  2.".,  1  SSI— Mayor,  James  II.  FVench. 
January  25,  1881,  to  January  2-"),  1888— Mayor,  James  H.  French. 

January  25,  1888,  to  February  1,  1885— Mayor,  James  H.  French. 

February  1,  1885,  to  February  1,  1887— Mayor,  Bryan  Callaghan. 

February  1,  1887,  to  February  11,  18S9— Mayor,  Bryan  Callaghan. 

February  11,  1889,  to Mayor,  B)ryan  Callaghar.. 


San  Antonio  de  Bexar. 


By   Sidney   Lanier. 

fF  peculiarities  \vere  quills,  San  Antonio  de  Bexar  would  be  a  rare  porcupine. 
Over  all  the  round  of  aspects  in  which  a  thoughtful  mind  may  view  a  cit\',  it 
bristles  with  striking  idiosyncracies  and  bizarre  contrasts.  Its  history,  popula- 
tion, climate,  location,  architecture,  soil,  water,  customs,  costumes,  horses,  cattle, 
all  attract  the  stranger's  attention,  either  b}-  force  of  intrinsic  singularity  or  of 
odd  juxtapositions. 

San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  Texas,  had  its  birth  in  ITlo.  It  was,  indeed,  born 
before  its  time,  in  consequence  of  a  sadden  fright  into  which  its  mother,  Spain, 
was  thrown  by  the  menacing  attitudes  of  certain  Frenchmen,  who,  upon  other 
occasions  besides  this  one,  were  in  those  days  very  much  what  immortal  Mrs. 
Gamp  has  declared  to  Mrs.  Harris  ' '  these  steam-ingines  is  in  our  business, ' '  a 
frequent  cause  of  the  premature  dev^elopment  of  projects.  For  Spain  had  not 
intended  to  allow  any  settlements,  as  j^et,  in  that  part  of  her  province  of  the  New 
Philippines  which  embraced  what  is  now  called  Texas.  In  the  then  situation  of 
her  affairs,  this  policy  was  not  without  some  reasons  to  support  it.  She  had 
valuable  possessions  in  New  Mexico  ;  between  these  possessions  and  the  French 
settlements  to  the  eastward,  intervened  an  enormous  breadth  of  country,  whose 
obstacles  against  intruders,  appalling  enough  in  themselves,  were  yet  magnified 
by  the  shadowy  terrors  that  haunt  an  unknown  land.  Why  not  fortify  her  New 
Mexican  silver-mines  with  these  sextuple  barriers,  droughts,  deserts,  mountains, 
rivers,  savages,  and  nameless  fears  ?  Surely,  if  inclosure  could  be  made  impreg- 
nable, this  would  seem  to  be  so  ;  and  accordingly  the  Spanish  Government  had 
finally  determined,  in  l(i')4,  not  to  revive  the  feeble  po.sts  and  missions  which  had 
been  established  four  years  previously  with  a  view  to  make  head  against  the 
expedition  of  La  Salle,  but  which  had  been  abandoned  already  by  soldier  and 
friar,  in  con.sequence  of  the  want  of  food  and  the  ferocit}'  of  the  savages. 

But  in  1712,  Anthony  Crozat,  an  enterprising  French  merchant,  obtained 
from  I/)uis  XIV  a  conditional  grant  to  the  whole  of  the  French  province  of 
Louisiana.  Crozat  believed  that  a  lucrative  trade  might  be  established  with  the 
northeastern  provinces  of  Mexico,  and  that  mines  might  exist  in  his  territory. 
To  test  these  beliefs,  young  Huchereau  St.  Denis,  acting  under  instructions  from 
Cardillac,  who  had  been  appointed  Governor  of  Louisiana  l)y  Crozat's  influence, 
started  westward,  left  a  nucleus  of  a  settlement  at  Natchitoches,  and  proceeded 

'I'his  skc-tcli  was  written  by  Sidney  I^anicr  in  1S72,  so  that  some  of  Die  references  to  the  modern  eity  must 
to-day  he  taken  cum  s^raiio  sulis,  or  at  least,  to  a  eertain  extent,  as  historieal.  Tlie  history  thronuhout  the  article 
is,  as  a  rule,  excellent  and  reliable.  Ivxclnsive  rights  in  this  article  have  been  p\ircliased  by  the  publishers  of 
this  work— W.  C,  Ki). 


SIDXIvV   LAXI1;R'S   IIISTORICAI,  SKl'TCII.  <'>o 

across  the  country  to  the  Rio  C.raiule,  where  his  explorations,  after  romantic 
adventures  too  numerous  to  be  rehited  liere,  came  to  an  inj^lorious  suspension 
with  his  seizure  and  imprisoinnent  l)y  the  Spanish  Vice-re^al  authorities  in 
Mexico. 

It  was  this  expedition  which  pnxhiced  the  premature  result  hereinV)efore 
alluded  to.  Spain  saw  that  instead  of  surrounding  New  Mexico  with  inhospita- 
ble wastes  and  ferocious  savages,  she  was  in  reality  but  leaving  France  free  to 
occupy  whatever  coigns  of  vantage  might  be  found  in  that  prodigious  Debatable 
Land,  which  was  claimed  by  both  and  was  held  by  neither. 

Perhaps  this  consideration  was  heightened  by  Spain's  consciousness  that  the 
fiimsiness  of  her  title  to  that  part  of  the  "  New  Philippines  "  which  lay  east  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  really  required  an  actual  occupation  in  order  to  bolster  it  up. 
Pretty  much  all  that  she  could  prove  in  support  of  her  claim  was,  that  in  1494 
Pope  Alexander  VI.,  acting  as  arl)itrator  between  Portugal  and  Spain,  had 
assigned  to  the  latter  all  of  the  American  possessions  that  lay  west  of  a  meridian 
running  three  hundred  and  seventy  miles  west  of  the  Azores  ;  that  De  Leon,  I)e 
Ayllon,  De  Narvaez,  and  De  Soto,  in  voyages  made  between  the  years  1 ')1-;  and 
15;>8,  had  sailed  from  Cape  Florida  to  Cape  Catorce  ;  and  that  Philip  II.  had 
denounced  the  penalty  of  extermination  against  any  foreigner  who  should  enter 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  or  any  of  the  lands  bordering  thereupon. 

These  were,  to  say  the  least,  but  indefinite  muniments  of  title  ;  and  to  them 
France  could  oppose  the  unquestionable  fact  that  La  Salle  had  coasted  the  shore 
of  Texas  westward  to  Corpus  Christi  inlet,  had  returned  along  the  same  route, 
had  explored  bays  and  rivers  and  named  them,  and  had  finally  built  Fort  St. 
Louis  on  the  Lavacca  river  in  1(JS.5.  Here  now,  in  1714,  to  crown  all,  was  this 
daring  young  Lord  Huchereau  St.  Denis  traversing  the  whole  land  from  Natchi- 
toches to  the  Rio  Grande,  and  thrusting  in  his  audacious  face  like  an  apparition 
of  energy  upon  the  sleepy  routines  of  post-life  and  mission-life  at  San  Juan 
Bautista. 

This  was  alarming  ;  and  in  ITL")  the  Duke  of  Linares,  Viceroy  of  Mexico, 
despatched  Don  Domingo  Ramon  to  Texas  with  a  party  of  troops  and  some  Fran- 
ciscan friars,  to  take  steps  for  the  permanent  occupation  of  the  country.  Ramon 
established  several  forts  and  missions  :  among  others  he  located  a  fort  ox  presidio 
(Spanish,  "  a  garrison  " ).  on  the  western  bank  of  the  San  Pedro  river,  a  small 
stream  flowing  through  the  western  suburbs  of  the  present  city  of  San  Antonio 
de  Bexar,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  present  Main  Plaza.  This 
presidio  was  called  San  Antonio  de  Valero.  In  May,  171S,  certain  Alcantarine 
Franciscans,  of  the  College  of  Queretaro,  establi.shed  a  mission  under  the  protec- 
tion of  X.\\Q  presidio,  calling  it  by  the  same  invocation,  San  Antonio  de  Valero.  It 
was  this  mission  whose  Church  of  the  Alamo  afterwards  shed  so  red  a  glory  upon 
the  Texan  revolution.  It  had  been  founded  fifteen  years  before,  in  the  valley  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  under  the  invocation  of  San  Franci.sco  Solano  ;  had  been  removed 
to  San  Ildefonso  in  170S,  and  again  removed  back  to  the  Rio  Grande  in  1710 
under  the  new  invocation  of  San  Jose.  It  had  not  indeed  yet  rea(?hed  the  end  of 
its  wanderings.     In  1  72"-'  both  the  presidio  and  mission  of  San  Antonio  de  \'alero 


70  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

were  removed   to  what   is  now   known   as  the  Military  Plaza,  and  a  permanent 
sj'stem  of  improvements  begun. 

Here  then,  with  sword  and  crozier,  Spain  .set  to  work  at  once  to  reduce  her 
wild  claim  into  possession,  and  to  fulfill  the  condition  upon  which  Pope  Alex- 
ander had  granted  her  the  country — of  christianising  its  natives.  One  cannot  but 
lean  one's  head  on  one's  hand  to  dream  out,  for  a  moment,  this  old  Military 
Plaza — most  singular  spot  on  the  wide  expanse  of  the  lonesome  Texan  prairies — 
as  it  was  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.  The  rude  buildings,  the  church,  the 
hospital,  the  soldiers'  dwellings,  the  brethren's  lodgings,  the  huts  for  the  con- 
verted Indians  {Yndios  Rediicidos)  stand  ranged  about  the  large  level  quadrangle, 
so  placed  upon  the  same  theory  of  protection  which  "parks"  the  wagon-train 
that  will  camp  this  night  on  the  plains.  Ah,  here  they  come,  the  inhal)itants  of 
San  Antonio,  from  the  church-door  ;  vespers  is  over  ;  the  big-thighed,  bow- 
legged,  horse-riding  Apache  steps  forth,  slowly,  for  he  is  yet  in  a  maze — the 
burning  candles,  the  .shrine,  the  genuflexions,  the  chants,  are  all  yet  whirling 
in  his  memory  ;  the  lazy  .soldier  slouches  by,  leering  at  him,  yet  observing  a 
certain  care  not  to  be  seen  therein,  for  Senor  Soldado  is  not  wholly  free  from  fear 
of  this  great-thewed  Senor  Apache  ;  the  soldiers'  wives,  the  squaws,  the  cate- 
chumens, the  children,  all  wend  their  ways  across  the  plaza.  Here  advances 
Brother  Juan,  l)are-footed,  in  a  gown  of  serge,  with  his  knotted  scourge  a-dangle 
from  his  girdle  ;  he  accosts  the  Indian,  he  draws  him  on  to  talk  of  Manitou,  his 
grave  pale  face  grows  intense  and  his  forehead  wrinkles  as  he  spurs  his  brain  on 
to  the  devising  of  arguments  that  will  convince  this  wild  soul  before  him  of  the 
fact  of  the  God  of  Adam,  of  Peter,  and  of  Francis.  Yonder  is  a  crowd  :  alas,  it 
is  stout  Brother  Antonio,  laying  shrewd  stripes  with  unsparing  arm  upon  the  back 
of  a  young  Indian — so  hard  to  convince  these  dusky  youths  and  maidens  of  the 
wide  range  and  ramifications  of  that  commandment  which  they  seem  most  prone 
to  break.  Ha  !  there  behind  the  church,  if  you  look,  goes  on  another  flagel- 
lation :  Brother  Francis  has  crept  back  there,  .slipped  his  woollen  gown  from  his 
shoulders,  and  fallen  to  with  his  knotted  scourge  upon  his  own  bare  back,  for 
that  a  quick  vision  did,  by  instigation  of  the  devil,  cross  his  mind  even  in  the 
very  mid.st  of  vespers — a  vision  of  a  certain  senorita  as  his  wife,  of  a  waim  all- 
day  sunned  hacienda,  of  children  playing,  of  fruits,  of  friends,  of  laughter — "  O 
blessed  St.  Francis  of  As.sisi,  fend  off  Sathanas  !  "  he  cries,  and  rai.ses  a  heavier 
welt. 

Pre.sently,  as  evening  draws  on,  the  Indians  hold  meetings,  males  in  one 
place,  females  in  another  ;  reciting  prayers,  singing  canticles  :  finally  it  is  bed- 
time ;  honest  Brother  Antonio  goes  around  and  locks  the  unmarried  young  male 
Indians  into  their  sleeping  apartments  on  one  side,  the  maidens  on  the  other  side 
into  theirs  ;  casts  a  glance  mayhap  towards  Mexico,  breathes  a  prayer,  gets  him 
to  his  pallet,  and  the  Plaza  of  San  Antonio  de  Valero  is  left  in  company  of  the 
still  sentinel,  the  stream  of  the  San  Pedro  purling  on  one  side,  that  of  the  San 
Antonio  whispering  on  the  other,  under  the  (|uiet  stars,  midst  of  the  solemn 
prairie,  in  whose  long  grass  yonder  (by  all  odds)'  crouches  some  keen-eyed 
Apache  bravo/-  who  has  taken  a  fancy  that  he  will  ride  Don  Ramon's  charger. 

*Spaiii>li,  I'liiiios  llrazos:    Incoiivci  li<l  hulians. 


SIDXl'V    LAXIl'R'S   mSToRICAI,  SKI-TCII.  71 

The  infant  settlement  soon  liegins  to  serve  in  tliat  capacity  which  K'ives  it  a 
"  l)a(l  eminence  "  anions-  the  other  Texas  settlements  lor  the  next  hundred  years: 
to  wit,  as  the  i)oint  io  which,  or  from  which,  armies  are  retreating  or  advancing, 
or  in  which  armies  are  fighting.  Already,  in  171^),  before  the  removal  to  the 
Military  Plaza,  the  scenes  of  war  have  been  transacting  themselves  in  the  young 
San  Antonio  de  Valero.  Ou  a  certain  day  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  the  peaceful 
people  are  astonished  to  behold  all  their  Spanish  brethren  who  belong  to  the 
settlements  eastward  of  theirs,  come  crowding  into  the  town;  monks,  soldiers, 
women  and  all.  In  the  confusion  they  quickly  learn  that  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  before,  France  has  declared  war  against  Spain  ;  that  the  Frenchmen  at 
Natchitoches,  as  soon  as  they  have  heard  the  news,  have  rushed  to  arms  with 
Gallic  impetuosity,  and  led  by  La  Harpe  and  St.  Denis,  have  advanced  west- 
ward, have  put  to  flight  all  the  Spanish  at  Adaes,  at  Orquizaco,  at  Aes,  and  at 
Nacogdoches  ;  and  that  these  are  they  who  are  here  now,  disturbing  the  peaceful 
mission  with  unwonted  sights  and  sounds,  and  stretching  its  slender  hospitalities 
to  repletion.  The  French  do  not  attack,  however,  but  return  towards  Natchi- 
toches. In  a  short  time  enter  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  stage,  that  is  to  say 
from  Mexico,  the  Marquis  de  Aguayo,  Governor-General  of  New  Estremadura 
and  the  New  Philippines,  with  five  hundred  mounted  men.  These  march 
through,  take  with  them  the  men  of  Oniuizaco,  of  Adaes  and  Aes,  re-establish 
those  settlements,  and  pursue  the  French  until  they  hear  that  the  latter  are  in 
Natchitoches  ;  De  Aguayo  then  returns  to  San  Antonio  and  sets  on  foot  plans  for 
its  permanent  improvement. 

About  this  time  occurs  a  short  and  spicy  correspondence,  which  for  the  first 
time  probably  announces  the  name  of  the  State  of  Texas,  and  which  explicitly 
broaches  a  dispute  that  is  to  last  for  many  a  year.  The  Spanish  Viceroy  in 
Mexico  appoints  Don  Martin  D'Alarconne  Governor  of  Texas.  Soon  afterwards 
La  Harpe  leaves  the  French  post  of  Natchitoches  and  busies  himself  in  advanc- 
ing the  French  interests  among  the  Nassonite*  Indians.  In  beginning  this 
enterprise  La  Harpe  sends  "a  polite  message"  to  the  Spanish  Governor,  who 
thereupon  writes  : 

"  Monsieiir : — I  am  very  sensible  of  the  politeness  that  M.  de  Bienville  and 
yourself  have  had  the  goodness  to  show  to  me.  The  orders  I  have  received  from 
the  King  my  master  are  to  maintain  a  good  understanding  with  the  French  of 
Louisiana  ;  my  own  inclinations  lead  me  equally  to  afford  them  all  the  services 
that  depend  upon  me.  But  I  am  compelled  to  say  that  your  arrival  at  the 
Nassonite  village  surprises  me  much.  Your  Governor  could  not  be  ignorant  that 
the  post  you  occupy  belongs  to  my  government,  and  that  all  the  lands  west  of 
the  Nassonites  depend  upon  New  Mexico.  I  counsel  you  to  inform  M.  Bienville 
of  this,  or  you  will  force  me  to  oblige  you  to  abandon  lands  that  the  iM'ench  have 
no  right  to  occupy.      I  have  the  honor,  etc. 

D'Alarconne. 
"  Trinity  River,  May  20,  ijrg." 

*  A  tribe,  or  set  of  tribes,  wlios^e  seat  of  govcriiineut  seems  to  liave  been  a  village  called  Texaf,  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Neches  River. 


72  SAN  ANTONIO  1)1-:  HICXAR. 

To  this  La  Harpe  makes  reply  : 

'■'■Monsieur: — The  order  from  his  Calliolic  Majesty  to  maintain  a  good 
understanding  with  the  French  of  Louisiana,  and  the  kind  intentions  you  have 
yourself  expressed  towards  them,  accord  but  little  with  your  proceedings.  Permit 
me  to  apprise  j^ou  that  M.  de  Bienville  is  perfectly  informed  of  the  limits  of  his 
government,  and  is  very  certain  that  the  post  of  Nassonite  does  not  depend  upon 
the  dominions  of  his  Catholic  Majesty.  He  knows  also  that  the  Province  of 
Lastekas,*  of  which  you  say  you  are  Governor,  is  a  part  of  Louisiana.  M.  dela 
Salle  took  possession  in  I680,  in  the  name  of  his  most  Christian  Majesty,  and 
since  the  above  epoch  possession  has  been  renewed  from  time  to  time.  Respect- 
ing the  post  of  Nassonite,  I  cannot  comprehend  by  what  right  you  pretend  that 
it  forms  a  part  of  New  Mexico.  I  beg  leave  to  represent  to  you  that  Don 
Antonio  de  Minoir,  who  discovered  New  Mexico  in  1()83,  never  penetrated  east 
of  that  province  or  the  Rio  Bravo.  It  was  the  French  who  first  made  alliances 
with  the  savage  tribes  in  this  region,  and  it  is  natural  to  conclude  that  a  river 
that  flows  into  the  Mississippi  and  the  lands  it  waters  belong  to  the  King  my 
master.  If  you  will  do  me  the  pleasure  to  come  into  this  quarter  I  will  convince 
you  I  hold  a  post  I  know  how  to  defend.     I  have  the  honor,  etc., 

De  La  Harpe. 
'■'Nassonite,  fuly  8ili,  1719.'' 

For  several  years  after  the  permanent  location  round  the  Military  Plaza  no 
important  events  seem  to  be  recorded  as  happening  in  San  Antonio  ;  but  the 
quiet  work  of  Post  and  Mission  goes  on,  and  the  probable  talk  on  the  Plaza  is  of 
the  three  new  Missions  which  De  Aguayo  establishes  on  the  San  Antonio  River, 
below  the  town,  under  the  protection  of  its  garrison  ;  or  of  the  tales  which  come 
slowly  floating  from  the  northward  concerning  the  dreadful  fate  of  a  Spanish 
expedition  which  has  been  sent  to  attack  the  French  settlements  on  the  Upper 
Mi.ssissippi,  and  which,  mistaking  the  hostile  Missouris  on  the  way  for  friendly 
Osages,  distributes  fifteen  hundred  muskets,  together  with  sabres  and  pistols,  to 
the  said  Missouris  to  be  used  against  the  French,  whereupon  the  Missouris  next 
morning  at  daybreak,  fall  upon  the  unsuspecting  Spaniards,  butcher  them  all 
(save  the  priest,  whom  they  keep  for  a  "magpie."  as  they  call  him,  to  laugh  at), 
and  march  off"  into  the  French  fort  arrayed  in  great  spoils,  their  chief  wearing 
the  chasuble  and  bearing  the  paten  before  him  for  a  breastplate  ;  or  of  Governor 
De  Aguaj'o's  recommendation  to  the  home  government  to  send  colonists  in.stead 
of  soldiers  if  it  would  help  the  friars  to  win  the  Indians  ;  or  of  the  appointment 
of  a  separate  Governor  for  Texas  in  1727  ;  or  of  the  withdrawal  of  ten  soldiers  in 
1729,  leaving  only  forty-three  in  garrison  at  San  Antonio.  About  17ol, 
however,  an  important  addition  is  made  to  the  town.  Under  the  auspices  of  the 
home  government — which  seems  to  have  accepted  De  Aguayo's  ideas — thirteen 
families  and  two  single  men  arri\e.  pure  Spaniards  from  the  Canary  Islands, 
also  some  Tlascalans,  and  a  party  from  Monterey.  These  set  to  work  around  a 
Plaza  (the  "  Plaza  of  the  Constitution."  or  "  Main  Plaza")  just  eastward  of  and 

•I.astekas, /.  ,•.  I.as  Tckas  :  7V.V(;\.  Tin-  l'"r<.iulinuii  in  tlu)sc  days  appt-ar  to  liavc  Kical  diflKiiUy  in  in- 
venting orthographies  for  Uiese  udioiis  Indian  names.  Tlie  Choctaws,  for  instance,  appear  in  the  documents 
of  the  time  as  "  Tchactas,"  the  Chickasaws  as  "  Clitcachatx,"  the  Cherokees  as  "  Cheraquh,"  ami  tluy  can  gel 
no  nearer  to  "Camanclies  "  ilian  •■  (  hoiiiii.tui  "  ..r  ••  f.inii.ixix''  ! 


SIDXICV   LAXIl'R'S   1 1 ISTOR  ICA  I.  SKl'/fClI.  73 

adjoiiii-iio-  the  Military  Plaza,  and  conuiieiict.'  a  town  which  tlK\-  call  San 
Fernando. -■=  They  are  led,  it  seems,  to  this  location  1)\-  the  same  facility  of 
irrigation  which  had  recommendetl  the  Military  Plaza  to  their  neighbors.  The 
new  colonists  imjjart  vigor  to  affairs.  The  Missions  ]iros])er,  Indians  are  ca])tured 
and  brought  in  to  be  civilized  whether  or  no,  and  on  the  ■")tli  of  March,  17-".l,  the 
foundation  is  laid  of  the  Mission  of  La  Pnrisii/ia  Coiia-pcioii  dc  .IciDia,  on  the  San 
Antonio  River,  a  mile  or  so  below  the  town. 

Meantime  a  serious  conspiracy  against  the  welfare  of  San  Antonio  and  San 
Fernando  is  hatched  in  the  northeast.  The  Natchez  Indians  wish  to  revenge 
themselves  upon  the  l-'rench,  who  have  driven  them  from  their  home  on  the 
Mississip])i.  They  resolve  to  attack  St.  I>enis  at  Natchitoches,  and  to  prevent 
the  Spaniards  from  helping  him  (the  iMcncli  and  Spanish  are  now  friends,  having 
united  against  England),  they  procure  the  Apaches  to  assail  San  Antonio.  St. 
Denis,  however,  surprises  and  defeats  the  Natchez  ;  and  the  Apaches  appear  to 
have  made  an  organized  attack,  but  to  have  confined  themselves  to  murdering 
and  thieving  in  parties.  These  Apaches,  indeed,  were  dreadful  scourges  in 
these  days  to  San  Antonio  and  its  environs.  The  people  of  the  presidio  of  San 
Fernando  and  of  the  Missions  on  the  River  complained  repeatedly  (says  the 
Testimonio  de  un  Pairccr'-  in  the  archives  of  Bexar)  that  they  cannot  expand  (siii 
podcr  estenderse)  on  account  of  ''  las  frcipiienttes  hosttilidadcs  que  experimenttan  de 
los  Yndios  Apaches.' '  This  great  tribe  had  headquarters  about  the  Pass  of  Ban- 
dera, some  fifty  miles  to  the  northwestVi\ird,  from  which  they  forayed  not  only 
up  to  San  Antonio,  but  even  as  far  as  to  Coahuila.  Moreover,  they  manage  (says 
the  TesfiDioiiio)  horses,  firearms,  and  arrows  eon  Dimlia  des/lreza  y  agilidad. 
F'inally  the  men  of  San  Antonio  and  San  Fernando  get  tire  1  of  it,  and  after  some 
minor  counter- forays,  they  organize  an  expedition  in  17-')2  which  concpiers  ct)m- 
parative  peace  from  the  Apaches  for  a  few  years. 

Nothing  of  special  interest  is  recorded  as  hap])ening  in  vSan  Antonio  from  this 
time  until  IT-'Ki.  In  .Septend:)er  of  that  year  arrives  Don  Carlos  de  h'ranquis,  who 
innnediately  ])roceeds  to  throw  the  town  into  a  \-ery  prett\-  ferment.  I*'ranquis  had 
come  out  from  vSpain  to  Mexico  to  be  Cio\-ernor  of  Tlascala.  On  arrix'ing  he 
finds  that  someone  else  is  already  Ciovernor  of  Tlascala.  X'izarron,  Arch- 
bi.shop  of  Mexico,  and  acting  Vicero\-  since  Casa  Fuerte's  death,  dispo.ses  of  him — 
it  is  likely  he  made  troul)le  enough  till  that  was  done — by  sending  him  off  to  Texas 
to  supersede  Governor  Sando\'al,  a  fine  old  \-eteran,  who  has  been  for  two  years 
governing  the  Province  with  such  .soldierl)-  lidelit\'  as  has  won  him  great  favor 
among  the  inhabitants.  P'ranquis  begins  by  insulting  the  priests,  and  follows  this 
up  with  breaking  o])eu  peo])le"s  letters.  Presentl\-  he  arrests  vSandoval,  has  liini 
chained,  and  causes  criminal  proceedings  to  be  connnenced  against  him,  charging 
him  with  treacherous  complicit\-  in  certain  mo\ements  of  St.  Denis  at  Natchitoches. 
It  seems  that  St.  Denis,  having  found  a  higher  and  drier  location,  has  removed  his 
garrison  and  the  iM-ench  Mission  of  St.  John  the  I^aptist  some  miles  further  from 
Red    River   toward    the   Texas   territory,    and  built  a  new  fort  a!id  settlenvMt^:  that 

the  Main  IMaza  sctlk-inciits -the  Plaza  de    .Annas, 


^^•Thf  ViU.-i  CajMtal  dc  Sai 

1  I"cninn<lo  was  not  exclnsivcl; 

:ilitary  IMaza.  was  also  of  it 

.-W.  C,  El). 

*  Testimony  uf  a  witness: 

this  document  is  hereinafter 

74  SAN  ANTONIO  DK   BKXAR. 

Sandoval,  hearing  of  it,  has  promptly  called  him  to  account  as  an  intruder  en  Span- 
ish ground;  and  that  a  correspondence  has  ensued  between  St.  Denis  and  Sandoval, 
urging  the  rights  of  their  respective  governments  in  the  premises,  which  has  just 
been  brought  to  the  point  of  a  flat  issue  upon  which  to  go  to  the  jur\-  of  war  when 
SandoA'al  is  ousted  by  Franquis.  The  Viceroy  sends  the  Governor  of  New  Leon  to 
investigate  the  trouble;  and  the  famous  law -suit  of  Franquis  versus  Sandoval  is 
fairl\-  connnenced.  The  Governor  of  New  Leon  seems  to  find  against  Franquis, 
wlio  is  sent  back  to  the:  presidio  on  the  Rio  Grande.  He  gets  away,  however,  and 
off"  to  the  \'iceroy.  But  Sandoval  is  not  sati.sfied,  naturally,  for  he  has  been  mulcted 
in  some  three  thousand  four  hundred  dollars,  cost  of  the  investigating  commission. 
He  pays,  and  in  17o<S  files  his  petition  against  Franquis  for  redress  of  his  injuries. 
Franquis,  thus  attacked  in  turn,  strengthens  his  position  with  a  new  line  of  accusa- 
tions. He  now,  besides  the  French  business,  charges  Sandoval  with  living  at  San 
Antonio  instead  of  at  i\daes,  the  official  residence;  with  being  irregular  in  his 
accounts  with  the  vSan  Antonio  garrison;  and  with  peculation  in  the  matter  of  the 
salaries  of  certain  paid  missionaries,  whom  Sandoval  is  alleged  to  have  discharged 
and  then  pocketed  their  .stipends.  The  papers  go  the  Viceroy,  and  from  the  Viceroy 
to  Attorney-General  \'edoya.  In  1740  Vedoya  decides  Sandoval  guilty  of  living  at 
San  Antonio,  though  it  was  his  dut>'  to  be  there  to  defend  it  against  the  Apaches; 
guilty  of  irregular  book-keeping,  though  through  memoranda  it  is  found  that  there 
is  a  balance  in  his  favor  of  thirteen  hundred  dollars;  not  guilty  of  stealing  the  mis- 
sionary money.  Upon  the  French  matter  Vedoya  will  not  decide  without  further 
e\-idence.  With  poor  Sandoval  it  is  paj'  again;  he  is  fined  five  hundred  dollars  for 
his  "guilt."  Meantime,  some  months  afterward  an  order  is  made  that  testimony 
be  taken  in  Texas  with  regard  to  the  French  affair,  said  testimony  to  embrace  an 
account  of  pretty  much  everything  in,  about,  and  concerning  Texas.  The  testi- 
mony being  taken  and  returned,  the  Attorney- General,  in  November  1741,  entirely 
acquits  Sandoval.  But  alas  for  the  stout  old  soldier!  this  is  in  Mexico,  where  from 
of  old,  if  one  is  asked  who  rules  now,  one  must  reply  with  the  circumspection  of 
that  Georgia  judge  who,  being  asked  the  politics  of  his  son,  made  answer  that 
he  knew  not^  not  having  seen  the  creature  since  breakfast.  \'izarron  has  gone  out; 
the  Duke  de  la  Conquista  has  come  into  the  Viceroyalty;  and  Sandoval  has  hardly 
had  time  to  taste  his  hard-earned  triumph  before,  through  machinations  of  Fran- 
(luis.  he  finds  himself  in  ])ris()n  by  order  of  the  new  X'iceroy.  Finally,  however,  tlie 
rule  works  the  other  way:  in  December,  174;!,  anew  X'iceroy,  Count  Inienclara, 
getsholdofthepapersintheca.se,  acquits  Sandoval,  and  enjoins  hVancjuis  from 
proceeding  further  in  the  matter. 

It  was  in  the  course  of  this  litigation — a  copy  of  the  proceedings  in  which, 
"filling  thirty  volumes  of  manu.script,"  was  transmitted  to  Spain — that  the  old  doc- 
ument hereinbefore  referred  to  as  \\nttcstimoniodeunPareccr\\'A.(\.\\.':^oxV^\\\.  In 
this  paper  San  Antonio  is  called  San  Antonio  de  Vejar  o  I'alero:  \'ejar  being  the 
S])anish  orthography  of  the  Mexican  Bexar  (pronounced  \'ay-har. )  This  name 
vSan  Antonio  de  Bexar,  seems  to  have  attached  itself  particularly  to  the  military 
post,  or  presidio;  its  origin  is  not  known.  The  town  of  San  I'ernando  was  still  so 
called  at  this  time;  and  the  town  and  mission  of  San  .\nlonio  de  Valero  bore  that 
name.  In  1744  this  latter  extended  itself  to  the  eastward,  or  rather  the  extension 
had  probably  gone  on  before  that  time  and  was  only  evidenced  then.     At  any  rate, 


SIDXI'V   LAXH'R'S   HISTORICAL  SKlvTCII.  75 

oil  the  Sth  of  May,  1711,  the  first  stone  of  tlie  ])reseiit  Church  of  tlie  Alamo  was 
laid  and  blessed.  The  site  of  this  ehnivh  is  nearl\-  a  (inarter  of  a  mile  to  the  east- 
ward of  the  Mililar\-  ])la/a,  where  the  mission  to  which  it  belonged  had  been 
located  in  IT'J-.  Prom  an  old  record-book  purportiiii^  to  contain  the  baptisms  in 
"the  Parish  of  the  Pueblo  n^  Saji  /osc  del  Alamo,"'  it  would  seem  that  there  must 
have  been  also  a  settlement  of  that  name.  ,Saii  Antonio  de  Bexar,  therefore — 
the  modern  city — seems  to  be  a  consolidation  of  the />r^.y/a'z<?  of  vSau  Antonio  de 
Bexar,  the  mission  ?i\\A  pueblo  {*ox  villa)  of  vSan  Antonio  de  X'alero,  and  the  pueblos 
of  San  Fernando  and  San  Jose  del  Alamo. 

For  the  next  fort\-  \ears  after  the  foundation  of  the  Alamo  in  1  711,  the  colonists 
and  missionaries  seemed  to  have  pursued  the  ordinary  round  of  their  labors  without 
unusual  events;  in  point  of  material  prosperity  ,Saii  Antonio  seems  to  have  led  but 
a  struggiinii:  existence.  Yoakum*  estimates  the  whole  European  population  of 
of  Texas  in  1714,  to  have  been  fifteen  hundred,  which,  together  with  about  the 
same  number  of  converted  Indians,  "was  divided  iiiostl}-  between  Adaes  and  vSan 
Antonio."  The  same  author  again  f  e.stimates  the  population  of  Adaes  and  vSan 
Antonio  in  17()")  to  have  been  "hardly  fi\'e  hundred"  Europeans,  besides  converted 
Indians,  of  whom  he  adds  that  there  were  only  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  in 
the  whole  province  of  Texas.  It  was  impo.ssible  indeed  during  these  years  that 
an>-  legitimate  prosperty  could  have  l)een  attained.  Up  to  the  year  17()2,  when 
France,  to  save  Louisiana  from  the  clutches  of  England,  ceded  it  to  Spain,  trade  had 
been  prohibited  by  the  latter  between  her  Texan  colonists  and  the  French  settlers 
in  IvOuisiana,  though  .some  intercourse  ahvays  went  on  in  a  smuggling  way  between 
the  two,  whenever  they  could  get  a  Spanish  official  to  wink  his  eye  or  turn  his  back; 
and  even  after  the  cession  of  Louisiana  matters  were  little  Ijetter  in  ])oint  of  com- 
mercial activity.  There  were  also  restrictions  even  upon  the  agricultural  energies 
of  the  colonists;  they  were,  it  is  said,  prohilnted  from  cultivating  the  vine  and  the 
olive,  and  also  from  the  manufacture  of  many  articles.  Indeed,  the  immediate  ncc- 
essit^•  of  settlements  having  passed  away  with  the  reino\-al  of  the  danger  of  French 
occupation,  the  old  policy  of  Spain  seems  to  hax'e  been  resumed  in  full  force,  that 
of  keeping  her  provinces  around  New  Mexico  and  Mexico  im])enetral)le  wastes,  as 
barriers  again.st  cnterpri.sing  neighbors. 

Nor  was  the  spiritual  pro.sperity  much  greater.  The  arduous  toils  and  sublime 
devotions  of  the  Franciscan  brethren  bore  but  moderate  fruit.  Father  Mare.st  had 
declared  in  171-  that  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  was  "a  miracle  of  the  Lord's 
mercy,"  and  that  it  was  "  necessary  first  to  transform  them  into  men,  and  afterward 
to  labor  to  make  them  Christians."  These  noble  l)rotliers  too  had  rea.son  to  believe 
in  the  inhumanity  of  the  Indians.  They  could  remember  the  San  Saba  Mission; 
where,  in  n")'*^,  the  Indians  had  fallen  u]ion  the  pco]-)le  and  mas.sacred  every  human 
being,  la)-  and  clerical:  and  here,  in  1 7>i'),  the\-  could  see  for  thenisel\-es  the 
company  of  .San  Carlos  de  Parras  dri\en  by  the  fierce  Comanches  to  place  their 
quarters  within  the  enclosure  of  the  Alamo. 

In  17<So-85  San  Antonio  de  \'alero  cea.sed  to  bu  a  Mission.  I'or  .some  rea.son 
it  had  become  cu.stomary  to  .send  whatever  captixe  Indians  were  brought  in   to  the 

*  History  of  Texas,  vol.  1,  p.  .S". 
tVol.  l.p.itV. 


76  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

Missions  l>elo\v  the  town  for  Christianization.  The  town,  however,  which  had 
been  built  up  about  the  Mission  buildings,  remained,  having  a  separate  alcalde,  and 
an  organization  politically  and  religiousl}^  distinct  from  that  of  San  Antonio  de 
Bexar  and  San  Fernando  for  some  years  longer.  In  IT'.'O  the  population  around 
the  Alamo  was  increased  by  the  addition  of  the  people  from  the  Presidio  de  los 
Adaes  ;  this  post  was  abandoned,  and  its  inhabitants  were  pro\'ided  with  lands 
which  had  been  the  property  of  the  Mission  of  San  Antonio  de  Valero,  h'ing  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Alamo  to  the  north.  "The  upper  labor^  of  the  Alamo,"  says 
Mr.  Giraud.  in  an  interesting  note  which  constitutes  Appendix  iv.  of  Yoakum's 
History  of  Texas,  "...  is  still  connnonly  called  by  the  old  inhabitants  the 
labor  de  los  Adaescnos. ' "  These  Mission  lands  about  the  Alamo  seem  to  have  ceased 
to  be  such  about  this  time,  and  to  have  been  divided  off  to  the  Mission  people,  each 
of  whom  received  a  portion,  with  fee-simple   title.f     In   17i)o  the  distinct  religious 

*  Lal'or:  a  Spanish  land-measure  of  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  acres. 

t[THH  PARTITION  OK  THE  LANDS  OF  THE  MISSION  OF  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  VALERO  OR  ALAMO  MISSION  TO  THE 
SETTLERS  OK  THE  EXTINGl'ISHED  POST  OR  PRESIDIO  OF  ADAES  WHO  HAD  BEEN  BROUGHT  TO  THIS  MISSION  UPON 
THE  BREAKING  VP  OK  THAT  POST. 

The  Presidio  of  the  Adaes  was  a  Spanish  frontier  Post  of  Eastern  Texas.  Its  site  was  almost  due  east 
from  Nacogdoches  between  the  Sabine  and  Red  Rivers,  in  Louisiana  Territory.  It  was  abandoned  and  broken 
up  about  1790.  It  had  been  of  some  importance  in  its  day.  Upon  its  extinction  its  settlers  were  brought  to  San 
Antonio  de  Valero.  It  would  appear  that  the  Spanish  Government,  about  the  year  1784,  were  a  little  dissatisfied 
with  results  in  the  Province  of  Texas,  and  became  curious  or  anxious  to  know  something  of  the  general  welfare 
and  condition  of  the  Missions  of  Texas,  and  an  order  was  issued  under  the  mandate  of  the  King  for  an  official 
report  of  the  Texas  Missions.  This  report  was  not  concluded  and  forwarded  until  December  27th,  1793,  when  it 
was  done  by  El  Conde  de  Revilla-gigedo,  Viceroy  of  Mexico.  He  instituted  some  changes,  apparently  sug- 
gested to  him  by  his  enquiries  and  by  petitions  sent  to  him  by  certain  resident  Adaes.  San  Antonio  de  Valero 
was  now  no  longer  a  Mission,  but  of  course  it  enters  into  his  report.  The  following  is  a  letter  from  a  tran- 
slated copy  deposited  in  the  City  Engineer's  Records  in  l.S.')S,  apparently  addressed  to  Manuel  Munioz.  Pro- 
visional  Governor,  in  1792  : 

"  I  return  you  the  enclosed  proceedings  marked  P.  V.  number  21,  pages  19,  which  you  sent  me  with  your 
letters  marked  394,  dated  the  2t)th  of  last  October,  and  in  which  the  residents  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar  petition 
for  the  distribution  amongst  them  of  lands  in  consideration  of  their  having  been  the  settlers  of  the  extinguished 
Pre.sidio  of  the  Adaes,  so  that  in  conformity  with  the  opinion  of  the  War  Auditor  with  which  I  have  agreed  in  a 
superior  decree  of  the  17th,  present,  (month)  you  shall  order  its  compliance.    God  keep  you  many  years. 

"  Mexico,  November  the  20th,  1792. 

"  The  Count  of  Revilla-gigedo, 

"S.  Dn.  Ramon  de  Castro,  Secretary. 
"  (A  copy.     Coahuila,  27th  December,  1792.    Castro.)" 
(Translated  by  A.  A.  Lewis,  October  2d.  1S.5S.) 

The  document  translation  from  which  this  is  an  excerpt,  is  headed:  "  Copy  of  Proceedings  sent  to  the 
Commander  General  on  July  27th,  1798,  respecting  the  Partition  of  lands  to  the  .\dacs  and  returned  by  that 
Superiority  to  the  Government  so  that  the  interested  parties  have  it  more  in  their  reach  lo  apply  for  testimonios 

that  may  serve  them  as  titles. 

"M.  Munioz, 
"  Lieut.  Col.  of  Cavalry  of  the  Royal  Armies  of  His  Majesty,  Political  and  Military  Governor  of  the   Province  of 

"  Texas  and  Wew  Philippines." 

So,  it  seems,  that  these  Adaes  might  be  fittingly  provided  for,  the  Count  issued  an  order  to  Manuel 
Munioz  to  divide  amongst  them  the  Alamo  Mission  lands.  .Accordingly  Don  Pedro  Huizar  is  ordered  to  sui-\-cy 
the  suertes  and  Hernardo  Zervantes  is  appointed  to  divide  the  lands  among  the  Indians  and  settlers,  January 
17th,  179:{.  A  drawing  or  lottery  was  to  be  held  to  decide  who  should  have  first  choice  of  the  suertes  surveyed, 
each  individual  to  be  granted  by  lot  a  piece  of  land,  as  much  as  4  pecks  of  seed  corn  will  cover,  and  they  are  all 
cautioned  to  be  satisfied  with  what  falls  to  their  lot  or  luck,  whether  they  draw  land  bordering  the  irrigating 
ditches  or  merely  ordinary  pasture  land.  "On  February  24th,  179.!,  the  following  named  .Xdae  Indians  received 
their  portions  of  land,"  then  follows  in  the  records  of  the  County  a  list  of  names,  viz  : 

"No.  1.     Suerle  !l  MamicI  Martinez. 

"  No.  2.     Suerte  &  Jo-^r  Ko.lriKuez. 

"  No.  .'i.     Suerte  ii  Mainu  1  ilc  los  Santos. 

"No.  4.     Stierte  il  Joachin  Mus(|\iiz,  etc.,  etc.    .">(>  Grants  altogether." 

The  only  condition  under  which  these  Indians  seem  to  have  held  their  lands,  was  that  they  were  to  pay 
a  Church  debt  out  of  a  part  of  the  crops  and  produce  of  their  lands.  At  this  date,  Father  Francisco  Jose  Lopez 
was  President  of  the  Missions. — W.  C.,.Ei>.l 

MEM.  The  I,abor  of  Abajo  to  pay  with  its  producls  the  debts  that  llu-  Mission  niiglil  have  at  llic  time  of 
its  delivery  over  to  the  public. 

MEM.     Ramon   de   Castro  was  Count  ol  Sierra  Gorda.-W.  C  .  IIm 


SIDXlvV  I.AXIl'R'S   HISTORICAL  SKICTCH.  77 

organization  of  the  Mission  of  .San  Antonio  (k-  X'ak-ro  terminated,  and  it  was 
aggregated  to  the  cnracv  of  the  town  of  San  hVrnando  and  the  pnsiciio  oi  San 
Antonio  de  Ik-xar  ;  as  appears  \)\  the  following  note  whieli  is  fonnd  on  the  last 
page  of  an  old  Record  l)ook  of  l)a])tisnis  in  the  archixes  of  P.exar  : — 

"On  the  22d  day  of  August,  171>.'),  I  passed  this  book  of  the  Records  of  the 
pueblo  of  San  Antonio  de  Valero  to  the  archives  of  the  curacy  of  the  town  of  San 
Fernando  and  presidio  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  by  order  of  the  most  illustrious 
Seiior  Dr.  Don  Andres  de  Llanos  y  Valdez,  most  worthy  Bishop  of  this  diocese, 
dated  January  2d,  of  the  same  year,  by  reason  of  said  pueblo  having  been  aggre- 
gated to  the  curacy  of  Bexar  ;  and  that  it  may  be  known,  I  sign  it. 

"  Fr.  Josk  Francisco  IvOpkz,  Parroco^ 

In  the  year  LSOO  San  Antonio  began  to  see  a  new  .sort  of  prisoners  brought  in. 
Instead  of  captive  Indians,  here  arrived  a  party  of  eleven  Americans*  in  irons,  who 
were  the  remainder  of  a  compan}-  with  which  Philip  Nolan,  a  trader  between 
Natchez  and  San  Antonio,  had  started  out,  and  who,  after  a  sharp  fight  with  one 
hundred  and  fift\-  Si:)anish  soldiers  in  which  Nolan  was  killed,  had  been  first 
induced  to  return  to  Nacogdoches,  and  there  treacherously  manacled  and  sent  to 
prison  at  San  Antonio.  Again,  in  LS().'),  three  Americans  are  brought  in  under 
guard.  In  this  vear,  too,  matters  begin  to  be  a  little  more  lively  in  the  town. 
Spain's  neighbor  on  the  east  is  not  now  France;  for  in  INO;;  Louisiana  has  ])een 
formally  transferred  to  the  United  States.  There  is  already  trouble  with  the  latter 
about  the  boundary  line  betwixt  Louisiana  and  Texas.  Don  Antonio  Cordero,  the 
new  Governor  of  Texas,  has  brought  on  a  lot  of  troops  through  the  town,  and  fixed 
his  official  residence  here  ;  and  troops  continue  to  march  through  en  route  to 
Natchitoches,  where  the  American  General  Wilkinson  is,  menacing  the  l)order. 
Again,  in  1S07,  Lieutenant  Zebulon  M.  Pike,  of  the  United  States  Army,  pa.s.ses 
through  town  in  charge  of  an  escort.  Lieutenant  Pike  has  been  sent  to  explore  the 
Arkansas  and  Red  Rivers,  and  to  treat  with  the  Comanches,  has  been  apprehended 
by  the  Spanish  authorities  in  New  Mexico,  carried  to  Santa  Fe,  and  is  now  being 
escorted  home. 

At  this  time  there  are  four  hundred  troops  in  San  Antonio,  in  quarters  near 
the  Alamo.  Besides  these,  the  towii  has  about  two  thousand  inhabitants,  mostly 
Spaniards  and  Creoles,  the  remainder  Frenchmen,  Americans,  civilized  Indians, 
and  half-breeds.  New  settlers  ha\-e  come  in  ;  and  what  with  army  olBcers,  the 
Governor's  people,  the  clergy,  and  prominent  citizens,  society  begins  to  form  and 
to  enjoy  itself.  The  Governor,  Father  McGuire,  Colonel  Delgado,  Captain  ITgarte, 
Doctor  Zerbin,  dispense  ho.spitalities  and  adorn  social  meetings.  There  are,  in  the 
evenings,  levees  at  the  Governor's  ;  sometimes  Mexican  dances  on  the  Plaza,  at 
which  all  assist  ;  and  freciuent  and  prolonged  card  parties. 

P,ut  these  peaceful  .scenes  do  not  last  long.  In  ISl  1  the  pa.s.sers  across  the  San 
Antonio  river  l)etween  the  Alamo  and  the  Main  Plaza  behold  a  .strange  sight:  it  is 
the  head  of  a  man  stuck  on  a  pole,  there,  in  bloody  menace  against  rebels.  This 
head  but  yesterda\-  was  on  the  shoulders  of  Colonel  Delgado,  a  flying  adherent  of 
Hidalgo,  in  Mexico:   Hidalgo,  initiator  of  how  long  a  train  of  Mexican  revolutions! 

*  Americans.  /.  ,-.  riiilcd  Males  people  ;  in  which  sense,  to  avoid  the  awkwardness  of  the  only  other  equiv  • 
alent  tertns,  I  shall  hereafter  nse  the  word. 


78  SAX  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

having  been  also  put  to  death  in  Chihuahua.  It  was  not  long  before  this  blood  was 
(as  from  of  old)  washed  out  with  other  blood.  Bernardo  Gutierrez,  a  fellow-rebel 
of  the  unfortunate  Delgado,  escaped  to  Natchitoches,  and  met  young  Magee,  an 
officer  of  the  ITnited  States  arm>-.  In  a  short  time  the  two  had  assembled  a  mixed 
force  of  American  adventurers  and  reljellious  Mexican  republicans,  had  dri\'en  the 
Spanish  troops  from  Nacogdoches,  marched  into  Texas,  captured  the  fort  and  sup- 
plies at  La  Bahia,  enlisted  its  garrison,  and  sustained  a  siege  there  which  the  enemy 
was  finally  compelled  to  abandon  with  loss.  It  was  in  March.  1818,  that  the 
Spanish  besieging  force  set  out  on  its  retreat  up  the  river  to  San  Antonio.  Gutier- 
rez— Magee  having  committed  suicide  in  consequence  of  mortification  at  the 
indignant  refusal  of  the  troops  to  accept  a  surrender  which  lie  had  negotiated  soon 
after  the  beginning  of  the  siege — determined  to  pursue.  On  the  28th  of  March  he 
crossed  the  Salado,  C7i  route  to  San  Antonio,  with  a  force  consisting  of  eight  hundred 
Americans  under  Colonel  Kemper,  one  hundred  and  eighty  Mexicans  led  by  Man- 
cliaca,-'-  under  Colonel  James  Gaines,  three  hundred  Lipan  and  Twowokana  Indians, 
and  twenty-five  Cooshattie  Indians.  Marching  along  the  bank  of  the  San  Antonio 
ri\-er,  with  the  left  flank  protected  by  the  stream,  this  motley  armj'  arrived  within 
nine  miles  of  San  Antonio,  when  the  riflemen  on  the  right  suddenly  discovered  the 
enemy  ambushed  in  the  chaparral  on  the  side  of  a  ridge.  Here  the  whole  force 
that  Governor  Salcedo  could  muster  had  been  posted,  consisting  of  about  fifteen 
hundred  regular  troops  and  a  thousand  militia.  To  gain  time  to  form,  the  Indians 
were  ranged  to  receive  the  opening  charge  of  the  Spanish  cavalry;  the  eneni}-  mean- 
time having  immediately  formed  along  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  wath  twelve  pieces  of 
artiller>-  in  the  centre.  The  Indians  broke  at  the  first  shock;  only  the  Cooshatties 
and  a  few  others  stood  their  ground.  These  received  two  other  charges,  in  which 
they  lost  two  killed  and  several  wounded.  The  Americans  had  now^  made  their 
dispositions,  and  proceeded  to  execute  them  with  matchless  coolness.  They  charged 
up  the  hill,  stopped  at  thirty  yards  of  the  enemy's  line,  fired  three  rounds,  loaded, 
then  charged  again,  and  straighway  the  slope  towards  San  Antonio  was  dotted  with 
Spanish  fugitives,  whom  the  Indians  pursued  and  butchered  regardless  of  quarter. 
The  Spani.sh  commander,  who  had  pledged  .sword  and  head  to  Governor  Salcedo 
that  he  would  kill  and  capture  the  American  army,  could  not  endure  the  sting  of 
his  misfortune.  He  spurred  his  horse  upon  the  American  ranks,  attacked  Major 
Ro.ss,  then  Colonel  Kemper,  and  while  in  the  act  of  striking  the  latter,  was  .shot  b)' 
private  William  Owen.  The  vSpanish  loss  is  .said  to  have  been  near  a  thousand 
killed  and  wounded. 

Next  day  the  Americans  advanced  to  the  outskirts  of  vSan  Antonio  and  de- 
manded a  surrender.  Governor  Salcedo  desired  to  parley,  to  delay.  A  second 
demand  was  made — peremptory.  Governor  Salcedo  then  marched  out  with  his 
staff.  He  presented  his  .sword  to  Captain  Taylor  ;  Taylor  refu.sed,  and  referred 
him  to  Colonel  Kemper.  Presenting  to  Colonel  Kemper,  he  was  in  turn  referred 
to  Gutierrez.  No,  not  to  that  rebel  !  vSalcedo  thrust  his  sword  into  the  ground, 
whence  Gutierrez  drew  it.  The  victors  got  .stores,  arms,  and  treasure.  Seven- 
teen American  prisoners  in  the  Alamo  were  released  and  armed.  The  troops 
were  paid — receiving  a  bonus  of  fifteen  dollars  each  in  addition  to  wages — clothed 


*  A  pioimueiit  Mfxu-au,  olTLXas,  of  slroii);  but  uiicuUivaUd  iiiU 


SIDXIvV   LAXIICR'S   HISTORICAI.  SKICTCH.  79 

and  niouiilecl  out  of  the  booty.  The  Indians  were  not  forgotten  in  the  distribu- 
tion: thc\  "  were  supplied,"  says  Voakuni,  "  witli  twc)  dollars'  \v(jrth  oi  ver- 
milion, to.^ether  with  presents  of  the  value  of  a  hundred  and  thirt\-  dollars,  and 
sent  away   rejoicin.i;'." 

And  now  flowed  the  blood  that  must  answer  that  which  dripped  down  the 
pole  from  poor  Colonel  Delgado's  bead.  Shortly  after  the  victory,  Captain  Del- 
gado,  a  son  of  the  executed  rel)el,  falls  upon  his  knees  before  Gutierrez,  and  de- 
mands vengence  n\)on  the  ]^risoner.  Governor  Salcedo,  who  apprehended  and 
executed  his  father.  Gutierrez  arrays  his  army,  informs  them  that  it  would  l)e 
safe  to  send  Salcedo  and  staflF  to  New  Orleans,  and  that  it  so  hap])ens  that  ves- 
sels are  about  to  sail  for  that  port  from  Matagorda  Bay.  The  army  consents  (we 
are  so  fearfully  and  wonderfully  republican  in  these  days  :  ///t'  aryny  consents) 
that  the  prisoners  be  sent  off  as  ])roi)osed.  Captain  Delgado,  with  a  company  of 
Mexicans,  starts  in  charge,  ostensibly  en  route  for  Matagorda  Bay.  There  are 
fifteen  of  the  distinguished  captives  :  Governor  Salcedo,  of  Texas,  Governor 
Herrera,  of  New  Leon,  Ex-Governor  Cordero,  whom  we  last  saw  holding  levees 
in  San  Antonio,  several  Spanish  and  Mexican  officers,  and  one  citizen.  Delgado 
gets  his  prisoners  a  mile  and  a  half  from  town,  halts  them  on  the  bank  of  the 
river,  strips  them,  ties  them,  and  cuts  the  throats  of  every  man  :  "  some  of  the 
assassins,"  says  Colonel  Navarro,  whetting  "  their  knives  upon  the  soles  of  their 
shoes  in  presence  of  their  victims." 

The  town  of  San  Antonio  must  have  been  anything  but  a  pleasant  place  for 
peaceful  citizens  during  the  next  two  months.  Colonel  Kemper,  who  was  really  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  American  army,  refused  further  connection  with  those 
who  could  be  guilty  of  such  barbarity,  and  left,  with  other  American  officers. 
Their  departure  leit  in  the  town  an  uncontrolled  body  of  troo])s  who  feared 
neither  God  nor  man  ;  and  these  immediately  proceeded  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  situation  by  indulging  in  all  manner  of  riotous  and  lawless  pleasures.  With 
the  month  of  June,  however,  came  Don  Elisondo  from  Mexico  with  an  army  of 
royalists,  consisting  of  about  three  thousand  men  half  of  whom  were  regular 
troops.  His  advance  upon  San  Antonio  seems  to  have  been  a  complete  surprise, 
and  to  have  been  only  learned  by  the  undisciplined  republican  army  in  the  town, 
together  wnth  the  fact  that  he  had  captured  their  horses,  which  had  been  out 
grazing,  and  killed  part  of  the  guard  which  w^as  protecting  the  caballada.  If  P^l- 
isondo  had  marched  straight  on  into  town,  his  task  would  probabh*  have  been  an 
easy  one.  But  he  committed  the  fatal  mistake  of  encamping  a  short  distance 
from  the  suburbs,  where  he  threw  up  two  bastions  with  a  curtain  between,  on  a 
ridge  near  the  Alazan  Creek. 

Meantime  the  republican  arm\-  in  th.e  town  recovered  from  the  confusion  into 
which  they  had  been  thrown  by  the  first  intelligence  of  Elisondo's  proximity, 
and  organized  themselves  under  Gutierrez  and  Captain  Perry.  It  was  determined 
to  anticipate  the  enemy's  attack.  Ingress  and  egress  w^ere  prohibited,  the  senti- 
nels doubled,  and  all  the  cannons  spiked  except  four  field-pieces.  In  the  darkness 
of  the  night  of  June  4th  the  Americans  marched  quietly  out  of  town,  b}-  file,  to 
within  hearing  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  remained  there  until  the  enemy  was 
heard  at  matins.     The  signal  to  charge  being  given — a  cheer  from  the  right  of 


80  SAN  ANTONIO  DR  BRXAR. 

companies — the  Americans  advanced,  suq^rised  and  captured  the  pickets  in  front, 
mounted  the  enem^-'s  work,  lowered  his  flag  and  hoisted  their  own,  before  they 
were  fairl}'  discovered  through  the  dim  dawn.  The  enemy  struggled  hard,  how- 
ever, and  compelled  the  Americans  to  abandon  the  works.  The  latter  charged 
again,  and  this  time  routed  the  enemy  completely.  The  royalist  loss  is  said  to 
have  been  about  a  thousand  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners;  and  that  of  the 
Americans,  ninety-four  killed  and  mortally  wounded. 

For  some  reason  Gutierrez  was  now  dismissed  from  the  leadership  of  the 
army  (we  republican  soldiers  decapitate  our  commanders  very  quickly  if  they 
please  us  not  !),  and  shortly  afterwards  troops  and  citizens  went  forth  in  grand 
procession  to  welcome  Don  Jose  Alvarez  Toledo,  a  distinguished  republican 
Cuban  who  had  been  forwarding  recruits  from  Louisiana  to  San  Antonio  ;  and 
having  escorted  him  into  town  with  much  ceremony,  elected  him  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Republican  Army  of  the  North.  Toledo  immediately  organised  a 
government ;  but  ihe  people  of  San  Antonio  enjoyed  the  unaccustomed  blessing 
of  civil  law  only  a  little  while. 

In  a  few  days  enter,  from  over  the  Mexican  border,  Gen.  Arredondo,  with 
the  remnant  of  Elisondo's  men  and  some  fresh  troops,  about  four  thousand  in  all, 
en  route  for  San  Antonio.  Toledo  marches  out  to  meet  him  with  about  twentj^- 
five  hundred  men,  one-third  of  whom  are  Americans,  the  balance  Mexicans  under 
Manchaca  ;  and  on  the  18th  of  August,  1813,  they  come  together.  Arredondo 
decoys  him  into  an  ingenious  ad  de  sac  which  he  has  thrown  up,  just  south  of  the 
Medina  River,  and  has  concealed  by  cut  bushes  ;  and  pours  such  a  murderous 
fire  of  cannon  and  small  arms  upon  him,  that  in  spite  of  the  gallantry  of  the  right 
wing  where  the  Americans  are,  the  retreat  which  Toledo  has  ordered  too  late 
becomes  a  mere  rout,  and  the  republican  army  is  butchered  without  mercy.  One 
batch  of  seventy  or  eighty  fugitives  is  captured  by  the  pursuing  royalists,  tied, 
set  by  tens  upon  a  log  laid  across  a  great  grave,  and  shot  ! 

On  the  20th  Arredondo  enters  San  Antonio  in  great  triumph,  and  straight- 
way proceeds  to  wreak  fearful  vengeance  upon  the  unhappy  town  for  the  massacre 
of  his  brother  governors.  Seven  hundred  citizens  are  thrown  into  prison.  Dur- 
ing the  night  of  the  20th  eighteen  die  of  suffocation  out  of  three  hundred  who  are 
confined  in  one  house.  These  only  anticipate  the  remainder,  who  are  shot,  with- 
out trial,  in  detachments.  Five  hundred  republican  women  are  imprisoned  in  a 
building,  derisivel)^  termed  the  Quhiia,  and  compelled  to  make  up  twenty-four 
bu.shels  of  corn  into  tortillas  every  day  for  the  royalist  army.  Having  thus  sent 
up  a  sweet  savor  of  revenge  to  the  spirits  of  the  murdered  Salcedo,  Cordero> 
Herrera,  and  the  others,  Arredondo  finally  gathers  their  bones  together  and 
buries  them.  In  all  this  blood  the  prosperity  of  San  Antonio  was  drowned.  To 
settlers  it  offered  no  inchicements  ;  to  most  of  its  former  citizens  it  held  out  notli- 
ing  but  terror  ;  and  it  is  described   as  almost  entireh' abandoned  in    IsKi. 

In  December,  l.S2(),  arri\-ed  a  person  in  San  Antonio  wlio,  though  nt)t  then 
known  as  sucli,  was  really  a  harbinger  of  better  times.  This  was  Moses  Austin, 
of  Connecticut.  He  came  to  see  Go\-ernor  Martinez,  with  a  view  of  bringing  a 
colony  to  Texas.  The  two.  with  the  I'.aroii  ck-  Haslro]),  put  in  train  tlie  i)relimi- 
nary  application  for  permission  to  Arretlondo,  Connnandanl-Cieneral  at  Monterey. 


y^-mcy, 


9 


/^// 


7 


^  RJ/fo  W^^cj 


FAC-Snm.KS    OF    SKiNATURKS    (JF    inSTOKICAL    PFRSONA 


GES. 


SIDXlvV   LANIl-R'S   HISTORICAL  SKl/rCII.  81 

Austin,  il  is  true,  died  soon  afterwards  ;  l)Ut  lie  left  his  project  to  his  son  Stephen 
F.,  who  afterwards  carried  it  out  with  a  patience  tliat  amounted  to  j^enius  and  a 
fortitude  that  was  equivalent  to  the  favor  of  Heaven. 

On  the  -ilth  of  August,  1S21,  Don  Juan  O'Donoju  and  Yturhide  entered  into 
the  Treaty  of  Cordova,  which  substantially  perfected  the  separation  of  Mexico 
from  the  mother-country.  When  the  intelligence  of  this  event  had  spread,  the 
citi/.en.s  of  San  Antonio  returned.  Moreover,  about  this  time  a  tide  of  emigra- 
tion began  to  set  towards  Texas.  The  Americans  who  had  composed  part  of  the 
army  of  Gutierrez  had  circulated  fair  reports  of  the  country.  In  IS-i."!  San 
Antonio  is  said  to  have  had  five  thousand  inhabitants  ;  though  the  Comanches 
appear  still  to  have  had  matters  all  their  own  way  when  they  came  into  town,  as 
they  frequently  did,  to  buy  beads  and  other  articles  with  skins  of  deer  and 
buffalo.  One  would  find  this  difticult  to  believe,  but  rea.soning  a  priori,  it  is 
rendered  probable  by  the  fact  that  in  the  decree  of  the  the  Federal  Congress  of 
Mexico  of  the  24th  of  August,  182(3,  to  provide  for  raising  troops  to  serve  in 
Coahuila  and  Texas  as  frontier  defenders,  it  is  ordered  that  out  of  the  gro.ss  levies 
there  shall  be  first  preferred  for  military  service  "  ^.s-  %'ao;os  y  iiial  cntreienidos,'" 
vagrant  and  evil- disposed  persons  ;  and  a  posteriori,  it  is  ([uite  confirmed  by  the 
experience  of  Olmsted  in  San  Fernando  (a  considerable  town  west  of  the  Rio 
Grande)  so  late  as  1S.54,  where  he  found  the  Indians  "lounging  in  and  out  of 
every  house  ....  with  such  an  air  as  indicated  they  were  masters  ot  the 
town.  They  entered  every  door,"  adds  Olmsted,  "fell  on  every  neck,  patted  the 
women  on  the  check,  helped  them.selves  to  whatever  suited  their  fancy,  and  dis- 
tributed their  scowls  or  grunts  of  pleasure  according  to  their  sensations." 

In  the  year  1824  a  lot  of  French  merchants  passed  through  San  Antonio  en 
route  to  Santa  Fe  on  a  trading  expedition.  Some  distance  from  town  their  pack- 
animals  were  all  stolen  by  Indians  ;  but  they  managed  to  get  carts  and  oxen  from 
San  Antonio,  and  so  conveyed  their  goods  finally  to  Santa  Fc,  where  they  sold 
them  at  an  immense  profit.  In  1831  the  Bowie  brothers,  Rezin  P.  and  James, 
organised  in  San  Antonio  their  expedition  in  search  of  the  old  reputed  silver 
mines  at  San  Saba  Mission.  In  the  course  of  this  unlucky  venture  occurred  their 
famous  Indian  fight,  where  the  two  Bowies,  with  nine  others,  fought  a  pitched 
battle  with  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  Indians  who  had  attacked  them  with 
arrow,  with  ritle,  and  with  fire  from  sundown  to  sunset,  killing  and  wounding 
eighty-four.  They  then  fortified  tlieir  position  during  tlie  night,  maintained  it 
for  eight  days  afterwards,  and  finally  returned  to  San  Antonio  with  their  horses 
and  three  wounded  comrades,  leaving  one  man  killed. 

It  is  related  that  in  ls;')2  a  Comanclie  Indian  attempted  to  alxluct  a  Shawnee 
woman  in  San  Antonio.  She  escaped  him,  joined  a  partv  of  her  people  who  were 
staying  some  thirty  fi\-e  miles  from  town,  ami  informed  them  where  the  Comanches 
(of  whom  five  hundred  had  been  in  town  for  some  purpose)  would  probably  camp. 
The  Shawnees  ambushed  themselves  at  the  spot  indicated.  The  Comanches 
came  on  and  stopped  as  expected  :  the  Shawnees  poured  a  fire  into  them,  and 
repeated  it  as  they  continually  rallied,  until  the  Comanches  abandoned  the  con 
test  with  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  se\entv-five  dead. 


82  SAN  ANTONIO  DK  BKXAR. 

Early  in  IS.'Jo  (or  perhaps  late  in  December  1832)  arrives  in  San  Auconio 
for  the  first  time-one  who  is  to  be  called  the  father  of  his  country.  This  is  Sam 
Houston.  He  comes  in  company  with  the  famous  James  Bowie,  son-in-law  of 
Vice-Governor  Veramendi,  and  holds  a  consultation  with  the  Comanche  chiefs 
here,  to  arrange  a  meeting-  at  Cantonment  Gibson  with  a  view  to  a  treaty  of 
peace.  Meantime  trouble  is  brewing.  Young  Texas  does  not  get  on  well  with 
his  mother.  What  seems  to  hurt  most  is  the  late  union  of  Texas  with  Coahuila. 
This  we  cannot  stand.  Stephen  F  Austin  goes  to  the  City  of  Mexico  with  a 
memorial  on  the  subject  to  the  federal  government.  He  writes  from  there  to  the 
municipality  of  San  Antonio.  Oct.  2d,  18:5o,  informing  the  people  that  their 
request  is  likely  to  be  refused,  and  advising  them  to  make  themselves  ready  for 
that  emergency.  The  municipality  hand  this  letter  over  to  Vice-President  Farias, 
who,  already  angry  with  Austin  on  an  old  account;  arrests  liim  on  his  way  home 
and  throws  him  in  prison,  back  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 

In  October,  18;U,  certain  people  in  San  Antonio  hold  what  Yoakum  calls 
"  the  first  strictly  revolutionary  meeting  in  Texas;"  for  Santa  Kw\\a.\\2iS  pronoiniced, 
and  got  to  be  at  the  head  of  affairs,  and  he  refuses  to  separate  Texas  from  Coa- 
huila. So,  through  meetings  all  over  the  state  ;  through  conferences  of  citizen 
deputations  with  Col.  Ugartechea,  Mexican  Commandant  at  San  Antonio,  for 
the  purpose  of  explaining  matters  ;  through  confused  arguments  and  resolutions 
of  the  peace  party  and  the  war  party  ;  through  confused  rumors  of  the  advance 
of  Mexican  General  Cos  with  an  army  ;  through  squabbling  and  wrangling  and 
final  fighting  over  the  cannon  that  had  been  lent  by  the  Post  of  Bexar  to  the 
people  of  Gonzales  ;  through  all  manner  of  civic  trouble  consequent  upon  the 
imprisonment  of  Governor  Viesca  of  Texas  by  Santa  Anna,  and  the  suspension  of 
the  progress  of  the  civil  law  machine,  we  come  to  the  time  when  the  committee 
of  San  Felipe  boldly  cry  :  -'Let  us  take  Bexar  and  drive  the  Mexican  soldiery  out 
of  Texas!"  and  presently,  here,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1885,  is  General  Cos 
with  his  army  in  San  Antonio,  fortifying  for  dear  life,  while  yonder  is  Austin 
with  a  thousand  Texans,  at  Mission  Concepcion,  a  mile  and  a  half  down  the  river 
below  town,  where  Fannin  and  Bowie  with  ninety  men  in  advance  have  a  few 
hours  before  waged  a  brilliant  battle  with  four  hundred  Mexicans,  capturing  their 
field-piece,  killing  and  wounding  a  hundred  or  more,  and  driving  the  rest  back 
to  town. 

(icneral  Austin  believes,  it  seems,  that  Cos  will  surrender  without  a  battle  ; 
and  so  remains  at  Concepcion  till  November  2d,  then  marches  up  past  the  town 
on  the  east  side,  encamps  four  or  five  days,  marches  down  on  the  west  side,  dis- 
plays his  forces  on  a  hill  side  /;/  terrorcm,  sends  in  a  demand  for  surrender — and 
is  flatly  answered  no.  He  resolves  to  lay  siege.  The  days  pass  slowly,  the 
enemy  will  not  come  out  though  allured  with  all  manner  of  military  enticements, 
and  the  army  has  no  "fun,"  with  the  exception  of  one  small  skirmish,  until  the 
2()th,  when  "Deaf"  Smith-'=  discovers  a  party  of  a  hundred  Mexican  troops,  who 
have  been  .sent  out  to  cut  prairie-grass  for  the  horses  in  towu,  and  reporting  them 
in  camp,  brings  on  what   is  known  as  the   "grass-fight."      Colonel  James  Bowie 

-due  of  Uk-  iiiosl  <.cl(  hi  .lU-d  .-.ikI  ifTiciriil  scoflsofllw  i  evolution.  (Whose  gvan.iclul.licii  aic  well  known 
in  this  city  to-day.  — W.  C.    i;i).J 

/ 


vSIDXIvV   LAXII-R'vS   HISTORICAL  SKI'/rClI.  8'^ 

attacks  with  ;i  huiuhvcl  mounted  men  ;  l)()th  sides  are  (luiekly  reinforced,  and  a 
sharp  running  fight  is  kept  up  until  the  enemy  get  back  to  town  ;  the  Texans 
capturing  seventy  horses  and  killing  some  fifty  of  the  enemy,  with  a  loss  of  but 
two  wounded  and  one  missing.  Meantime  discontents  arise.  On  the  day  before 
the  "grass-fight"  Austin  resigns,  having  been  appointed  Commissioner  to  the 
United  States,  and  Edward  Burleson  is  elected  by  the  army  to  the  command. 
General  Burleson,  for  some  reason,  seems  loth  to  storm.  Moreover,  one  Dr. 
James  Grant  seduces  a  large  party  with  a  wild  project  to  leave  San  Antonio  and 
attack  Mataraoras,  when  he  declares  that  the  whole  of  Mexico  will  rise  and  over- 
whelm Santa  Anna  ;  and  on  the  29th  of  November  it  is  actually  announced  that 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  men  are  determined  to  start  the  next  morning. 

P>ut  they  do  not  start.  It  is  whispered  the  town  will  be  stormed.  On  the 
ord  of  December,  Smith,  Holmes,  and  Maverick  escape  from  San  Antonio,  and 
give  the  Texan  commander  such  information  as  apparently  determities  him  to 
storm.  Volunteers  are  called  for  to  attack  early  next  morning  ;  all  day  and  all 
night  of  that  December  ord  the  men  make  themselves  ready,  and  long  for  the 
moment  to  advance  :  when  here  comes  word  from  the  General's  quarters  that  the 
attack  is  put  off !  Chagrin  and  indignation  prevail  on  all  sides.  On  the  morning 
of  the  4th  there  is  open  disobedience  of  orders  ;  whole  companies  refuse  to  parade. 
Finall}^  when  on  the  same  afternoon  orders  are  issued  to  abandon  camp  and 
march  for  La  Bahia  at  seven  o'clock,  the  tumult  is  terrible,  and  it  s-^^ems  likely 
that  these  wild  energetic  souls,  failing  the  Mexicans,  will  end  by  exterminating 
each  other. 

^Slidst  of  the  confusion  here  arrives  Mexican  Lieutenant  Vuavis,  a  deserter, 
and  declares  that  the  projected  attack  is  not  known  (as  had  been  assigned  for 
reason  of  postponing),  and  that  the  garrison  in  town  is  in  as  bad  order  and  dis- 
content as  the  besiegers.  At  this  critical  moment  a  brave  man  suddenly  crystal- 
lised the  loose  mass  of  discordant  men  and  opinions  into  one  compact  force  and 
one  keen  purpose.  It  is  late  in  the  morning,  Col.  Benjamin  R.  Milam  steps  forth 
among  the  men,  and  cries  aloud  :  "  Who  will  go  with  old  Ben  Milam  into  San 
Antonio? ''     Three  hundred  and  one  men  wnll  go. 

A  little  before  daylight  on  the  ^th  they  "go,"  Gen.  Burleson  agreeing  to 
hold  his  position  until  he  hears  from  them.  Milam  marches  into  and  along 
Acequia  Street  with  his  party  ;  Johnson  with  his  along  Soledad  Street.  Where 
these  debouch  into  the  Main  Plaza,  Cos  has  throwni  up  breastworks  and  placed 
raking  batteries.  The  columns  march  parallel  along  the  quiet  streets.  Pres- 
ently, as  Johnson  gets  near  the  Veramendi  House  (which  he  is  to  occupy,  while 
Milam  is  to  gain  De  la  Garza's  house),  a  Mexican  sentinel  fires.  Deaf  Smith 
shoots  the  sentinel.  The  Mexicans  prick  up  their  ears,  prick  into  their  cannon- 
cartridges;  the  Plaza  batteries  open,  the  Alamo  batteries  join  in  ;  spade,  crowbar, 
rifle,  escopet,  all  are  plied,  and  the  storming  of  Bexar  is  begun. 

But  it  would  take  many  such  papers  as  this  to  give  even  meagre  details  of 
all  the  battles  that  have  been  fought  in  and  around  San  Antonio,  and  one  must 
pass  over  the  four  days  of  this  thrilling  conflict  with  briefest  mention.  It  is 
novel  fighting  ;  warfare  intramural,  one  might  say.  The  Texans  advance  inch 
by  inch  by  piercing  through  the  stone  walls   of  the   houses,  pecking  loop-holes 


84  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BKXAR. 

with  crowbars  for  their  rifles  as  they  gain  each  room,  picking  off  the  enemy  from 
his  housetops,  from  around  his  cannon,  even  from  behind  his  own  loop-holes. 
On  the  night  of  the  oth  with  great  trouble  and  risk  the  two  columns  succeed  in 
opening  comnuinication  with  each  other.  On  the  (Jth  they  advance  a  little 
beyond  the  Garza  house.  On  the  7th  brave  Karnes  steps  forth  with  a  crowbar 
and  breaks  into  a  house  midway  between  the  Garza  house  and  the  Plaza  ;  brave 
Milam  is  stricken  by  a  rifle  ball  just  as  he  is  entering  the  yard  of  the  Veramendi 
house  and  falls  instantly  dead  ;  and  the  Navarro  house,  one  block  from  the  Main 
Plaza,  is  gained.  On  the  8th  they  take  the  "  Zambrano  Row"  of  buildings, 
driving  the  enemy  from  it  room  by  room  ;  the  enemy  endeavor  to  produce  a 
diversion  with  fifty  men,  and  do,  in  a  sense,  for  Burleson  finds  some  diversion  in 
driving  them  back  precipitately  with  a  six-pounder  ;  at  night  those  in  the  Zam- 
brano Row  are  reinforced,  and  the  "Priest's  House"  is  gained  amid  heavy 
fighting. 

This  last  is  the  stroke  of  grace.  The  Priest's  House  commands  the  Plaza. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  General  Cos  sends  a  flag  of  truce,  asking  to  sur- 
render, and  on  the  10th  agrees  with  Gen.  Burleson  upon  formal  and  honorable 
articles  of  capitulation. 

The  poor  citizens  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  however,  do  not  yet  enjoy  the 
blessings  of  life  in  quiet ;  these  wild  soldiers  who  have  stormed  the  town  cannot 
remain  long  without  excitement.  Presently  Dr.  Grant  revives  his  old  Mata- 
moras  project,  and  soon  departs,  carrying  with  him  most  of  the  troops  that  had 
been  left  at  Bexar  for  its  defense,  together  with  great  part  of  the  garrison's  winter 
supply  of  clothing,  ammunition  and  provisions,  and  in  addition  "pressing"  such 
property  of  the  citizens  as  he  needs,  insomuch  that  Col.  Neill,  at  that  time  in 
command  at  Bexar,  writes  to  the  Governor  of  Texas  that  the  place  is  left  desti- 
tute and  defenceless.  Soon  afterward  Col.  Neill  is  ordered  to  destroy  the  Alamo 
walls  and  other  fortifications,  and  bring  off  the  artillery,  since  no  head  can  be 
made  there  in  the  present  crisis  against  the  enemy,  who  is  reported  marching  in 
force  upon  San  Antonio.  Having  no  teams.  Col.  Neill  is  unable  to  obey  the 
order,  and  presently  retires,  his  unpaid  men  having  dropped  off  until  but  eighty 
remain,  of  wdiom  Colonel  Wm.  B.  Travis  assumes  command.  Colonel  Travis 
promptly  calls  for  more  troops,  but  gets  none  as  yet,  for  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil are  at  deadly  quarrel,  and  the  soldiers  are  all  pressing  towards  Matamora?. 
Travis  has  brought  thirty  men  with  him  ;  about  the  middle  of  February  he  is 
joined  l)y  Colonel  Bowie  with  thirty  others,  and  these,  with  the  eighty  already  in 
garrison,  constitute  the  defenders  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar.  On  the  'i.'Jd  of  Feb- 
ruary appears  General  Santa  Anna  at  the  head  of  a  well-appointed  army  of  some 
four  thousand  men,  and  marches  straight  on  into  town.  The  Texans  retire 
before  him  slowly,  and  finally  shut  thems^-lves  up  in  the  Alamo  ;  here  straight- 
way begins  that  bloodiest,  smokiest,  grimiest  tragedy  of  this  century.  William 
B.  Travis,  James  Bowie,  and  David  Crockett,  with  their  hundred  and  forty-five 
effective  men,  are  enclosed  within  a  stone  rectangle  one  hundred  and  ninety  feet 
long  and  one  hundred  and  twentj'-two  feet  wide,  having  the  old  church  of  the 
Alamo  in  the  southeast  corner,  in  which  are  their  quarters  and  magazine.  They 
have  a  supply  of  water  from  tlic  ditches  that  run  alongside  the  walls,  and  by  way 


vSIDXlvV   I.AXIl-R'S   HISTORICAL  SKI'.TCII.  85 

of  provision  the\' have  about  ninety  bushels  of  corn  and  thirty  beef  cattle,  their 
entire  stock,  all  collected  since  the  enemy  came  in  sight.  The  walls  are  un- 
broken, with  no  angles  from  which  to  conmiand  beseiging  lines.  Tliey  ha\e 
fourteen  pieces  of  artillery  mounted,  with  but  little  ammunition. 

Santa  Anna  demands  unconditional  svirrender.  Tra\is  replies  with  a  camion- 
shot,  and  the  attack  commences,  the  enemy  running  up  a  blood-red  flag  in  town. 
Travis  dispatches  a  messenger  with  a  call  to  his  countrymen  for  reinforcements, 
which  concludes  :  "  Though  this  call  may  be  neglected,  I  am  determined  to  sus- 
tain myself  as  long  as  possible,  and  die  like  a  soldier  who  never  forgets  what  is 
due  to  his  own  honor  and  that  of  his  country.  Victory  or  death  !  "  Meantime 
the  enemy  is  active.  On  the  25th  Travis  has  a  sharp  fight  to  prevent  him  from 
erecting  a  battery  raking  the  gate  of  the  Alamo.  At  night  it  is  erected,  with 
another  a  half-mile  off  at  the  Garifa,  or  powder-house,  on  a  .sharp  eminence  at 
the  extremity  of  the  present  main  street  of  the  town.  On  the  26th  there  is  skir- 
mishing with  the  Mexican  cavalry.  In  the  cold — for  a  norther  has  commenced  to 
blow  and  the  thermometer  is  down  to  thirty-nine — the  Texans  make  a  sally  suc- 
cessfully for  wood  and  \vater,  and  that  night  they  burn  some  old  houses  on  the 
northeast  that  might  afford  cover  for  the  enenu-.  So  amid  the  enemy's  constant 
rain  of  shells  and  balls,  which  miraculously  hurt  no  one,  the  Texans  strengthen 
their  works  and  the  siege  goes  on.  On  the  28th  Fannin  starts  from  Goliad  with 
three  hundred  troops  and  four  pieces  of  artillery,  but  for  lack  of  teams  and  pro- 
visions quickly  returns,  and  the  little  garri.son  is  left  to  its  fate.  On  the  morning 
of  the  first  of  March  there  is  doubtless  a  wild  shout  of  welcome  in  the  Alamo  ; 
Captain  John  W.  Smith  has  managed  to  convey  thirty-two  men  from  Gonzales 
into  the  fort.  These  join  the  heroes,  and  the  attack  and  defence  go  on.  On  the 
•>rd  a  single  man,  Moses  Rose,  escapes  from  the  fort.  His  account  of  that  day* 
must  entitle  it  to  consecration  as  one  of  the  most  pathetic  days  of  time. 

''About  two  hours  before  sunset  on  the  ord  of  March,  IS-'UI,  the  bombard- 
ment suddenly  ceased,  and  the  enemy  withdrew  an  unusual  distance Col- 
onel Travis  paraded  all  his  effective  men  in  a  single  file,  and  taking  his  position 
in  front  of  the  centre,  he  stood  for  some  moments  apparently  speechless  from 
emotion  :  then  nerving  himself  for  the  occasion,  he  addressed  them  substantially 
as  follows  : — 

"  'My  brave  companions  :  stern  necessity  compels  me  to  employ  the  few 
moments  afforded  by  this  probably  brief  cessation  of  conflict,  in  making  known 
to  you  the  most  interesting,  3'et  the  most  solemn,   melancholy  and  unwelcome 

fact  that  humanity  can  realise Our  fate  is  sealed.     Within   a  very  few 

days,  perhaps  a  very  few  hours,  we  must  all  be  in  eternity  !  I  have  deceived  you 
long  by  the  promise  of  help  ;  but  I  crave  3'our  pardon,  hoping  that  after  hearing 
my  explanation  you  will  not  only  regard  my  conduct  as  pardonable,  but  heartily 

sympathise  with  me  in  my  extreme  necessity I  have  continually  received 

the  strongest  assurances  of  help  from  home.     Every  letter  from  the  Council,  and 

*  As  transmitted  by  the  Ziiber  family,  whose  residence  was  the  first  place  at  which  poor  Rose  had  dared  to 
stop,  and  with  whom  he  remained  some  weeks,  healing  the  festered  wounds  made  on  his  legs  by  the  cactus- 
thorns  during  the  days  of  his  fearful  journey.  The  account  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken,  is  contributed 
to  the  Texas  .\lmanac  for  1S78,  by  W.  P.  Zuber,  and  his  mother,  Mary  .\un  Zuber. 


«6  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

ever)-  one  that  I  have  seen  from  individuals  at  home,  has  teemed  with  assurances 
that  our  people  were  ready,  willing  and  anxious  to  come  to  our  relief.   .  .  .  These 

assurances  I  received  as  facts In  the  honest  and  simple  confidence  of  my 

heart  I  have  transmitted  to  3'ou  these  promi.sos  of  help  and  my  confident  hope  of 
success.  But  the  promised  help  has  not  come,  and  our  hopes  are  not  to  be 
realised.     I  have  evidently  confided  too  much  in  the  promises  of  our  friends;  but 

let  us  not  be  in  haste  to  censure  them Our  friends   were  evidently  not 

informed  of  our  perilous  condition  in  time  to  save  us.  Doubtless  they  would 
have  been  here  by  the  time  they  expected  any  considerable  force  of  the  enemy. 
....  My  calls  on  Colonel  Fannin  remain  unanswered,  and  my  messengers  have 
not  returned.  The  probabilities  are  that  his  whole  command  has  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  or  been  cut  to  pieces,  and  that  our  couriers  have  been  cut 
off.     [So  does  the  brave  simple  soul   refuse  to  feel  any  bitterness  in  the  hour  of 

death.]  ....  Then  we  must  die Our  business  is  not  to  make  a  fruitless 

effort  to  save  our  lives,  but  to  choose  the  manner  of  our  death.  But  three  modes 
are  presented  to  us  ;  let  us  choose  that  by  which  we  may  best  serve  our  country. 
Shall  we  surrender  and  be  deliberately  shot  without  taking  the  life  of  a  single 
enemy  ?  Shall  we  try  to  cut  our  way  out  through  the  Mexican  ranks  and  be 
butchered  before  we  can  kill  twenty  of  our  adversaries  ?     I  am  opposed  to  either 

method Let  us  resolve  to  withstand  our  adversaries  to   the  last,    and   at 

each  advance  to  kill  as  many  of  them  as  possible.  And  when  at  last  they  shall 
storm  our  fortress,  let  us  kill  them  as  they  come!  kill  them  as  they  scale  our  wall! 
kill  them  as  they  leap  within!  kill  them  as  the}-  raise  their  weapons  and  as  they 
use  them!  kill  them  as  they  kill  our  companions!  and  continue  to  kill  them  as 
long  as  one  of  us  shall  remain  alive!  ....  But  I  leave  every  man  to  his  own 
choice.  Should  an}-  man  prefer  to  surrender  .  .  .  or  to  attempt  an  escape  .  .  . 
he  is  at  liberty  to  do  so.  My  own  choice  is  to  stay  in  the  fort  and  die  for  my 
country,  fighting  as  long  as  breath  shall  remain  in  my  bod}-.  This  will  I  do 
even  if  you  leave  me  alone.  Do  as  you  think  best ;  but  no  man  can  die  with  me 
without  affording  me  comfort  in  the  hour  of  death  ! ' ' 

"Colonel  Travis  then  drew  his  sword,  and  with  its  point  traced  a  line  upon 
the  ground  extending  from  the  right  to  the  left  of  the  file.  Then  resuming  his 
position  in  front  of  the  center,  he  said,  'I  now  want  every  man  who  is  determined 
to  stay  here  and  die  with  me  to  come  across  this  line.  Who  will  be  the  first? 
March  !  The  first  respondent  was  Tapley  Holland,  who  leaped  the  line  at  a 
bound,  exclaiming,  '  I  am  ready  to  die  for  my  country  ! '  His  example  was 
instantly  followed  by  every  man  in  the  file  with  the  exception  of  Rose.  .  .  .  Every 
sick  man  that  could  walk,  aro.se  from  his  bunk  and  tottered  across  the  line. 
Colonel  Bowie,  who  could  not  leave  his  bed,  said,  '  Boys.  I  am  not  able  to  come 
to  you,  but  I  wish  .some  of  you  would  be  so  kind  as  to  remove  my  cot  over  there.' 
Four  men  in.stantly  ran  to  the  cot,  and  each  lifting  a  corner,  carried  it  across  the 
line.  Then  every  sick  man  that  could  not  walk  made  the  same  request,  and  had 
his  bunk  removed  in  the  .same  way. 

"  Rose  too  was  deeply  affected,  but  differently  from  his  companions.  He 
stood  till  every  man  but  himself  had  cro.ssed  the  line.  .  .  .  He  sank  upon  the 
ground,  covered  his  face,  and  yielded  to  his  own  reflections.   ...   A   bright  idea 


siDXi'V  i,.\xii-:r's  historical  ski-:tcii.  87 

came  to  his  relief;  he  spoke  the  Mexican  dialect  very  fluentl}-,  and  could  he  once 
get  safely  out  of  the  fort,  he  might  easily  pass  for  a  Mexican  and  effect  an 
escape.  ...  He  directed  a  searching  glance  at  the  cot  of  Colonel  Bowie.  .  .  . 
Colonul  David  Crockett  was  leaning  over  the  cot,  conversing  with  its  occupant  in 
an  undertone.  After  a  few  seconds  Bowie  looked  at  Rose  and  said,  'You  seem 
not  to  be  willing  to  die  with  us.  Rose.'  '  No,'  said  Rose  ;  '  I  am  not  prepared  to 
die,  and  shall  not  do  so  if  I  can  avoid  it.'  Then  Crockett  also  looked  at  him,  and 
said,  '  You  may  as  well  conclude  to  die  with  us,  old  man,  for  escape  is  impossi- 
ble.' Rose  made  no  reply,  but  looked  at  the  top  of  the  wall.  '  I  have  often  done 
worse  than  to  climb  that  wall,'  thought  he.  Suiting  the  action  to  the  thought, 
he  sprang  up.  seized  his  wallet  of  unwashed  clothes,  and  ascended  the  wall. 
Standing  on  its  top,  he  looked  down  within  to  take  a  last  view  of  his  dying 
friends.  They  were  all  now  in  niotion,  l)ut  what  they  were  doing  he  heeded  not; 
overpowered  by  his  feelings,  he  looked  away  and  saw  them  no  more.  ...  He 
threw  dowm  his  wallet  and  leaped  after  it.  .  .  .  He  took  the  road  which  led  down 
the  River  around  a  bend  to  the  ford,  and  through  the  town  by  the  church.  He 
waded  the  river  at  the  ford  and  pas.sed  through  the  town.  He  saw  no  per- 
son ....  but  the  doors  were  all  closed,  and  San  Antonio  appeared  as  a  de- 
serted city. 

"  After  passing  through  the  town  lie  tiu'ned  down  the  River.  A  stillness  as  of 
death  prevailed.  When  he  had  gone  al)out  a  ([uarter  of  a  mile  below  the  town,  his 
ears  were  saluted  by  the  thunder  of  the  l)oml)ardment  which  was  then  renewed. 
That  thunder  continued  to  remind  him  that  his  friends  were  true  to  their  cause,  by 
a  continual  roar  with  but  slight  inter\-als  until  a  little  before  sunrise  on  the  morning 
of  the  6th,  when  it  ceased  and  he  heard  it  no  more."  =•• 

And  well  may  it  "cease"  on  that  morning  of  the  (Jth  ;  for  after  that  thrilling 
M,  the  siege  goes  on,  the  enemy  furious,  the  Texans  replying  calml\-  and  slowly. 
Finally  Santa  Anna  determines  to  storm.  Some  hours  before  (la>light  on  the 
morning  of  the  (itli,  the  Mexican  infantry,  ])ro\-ided  with  scaling  ladders,  and 
backed  by  the  cavalr>'  to  keep  them  up  to  the  work,  surround  the  doomed  fort.  At 
daylight  they  advance  and  ])lant  their  ladders,  ])ut  give  l)ack  under  a  deadly  fire 
from  the  Texans.  They  ad\-ance  again,  and  again  retreat,  A  third  time — Santa 
Anna  threatening  and  coaxing  b>-  turns — the>-  plant  their  ladders.  Now  they  mount 
the  walls.  The  Texans  are  ovei  whelmed  by  sheer  weight  of  numbers  and  ex- 
haustion of  continued  watching  and  fighting.  The  Mexicans  swarm  hito  the  fort. 
The  Texans  club  their  guns;  one  by  one  llie\-  fall  fighting— now  Travis  yonder  by 
the  western  wall,  now  Crockett  here  in  tlie  angle  of  the  cluu-ch-wall.  now  Bowie 
butchered  and  nuitilated  in  his  sick-cot,  breathe  (piick  and  pass  away;  and  presently 
every  Texan  lies  dead,  while  there  in  liorrid  hea])s  are  stretched  five  hundred  and 
twentv-one  dead  Mexicans  and  as  niaii>-  more  wounded!  Of  tlie  human  beings  that 
were  in  the  fort  five  remain  alive:  Mrs.  Dickinson  and  lier  child,  Colonel  Travis' 
negro-servant,    and   two    Mexican  women. 

*  Rose  snccteded  in  making  his  escape,  and  re.iclud  the  house  of  the  Zubers.  as  before  stated,  in  fearful 
condiUoi).  .\fter  remaining  here  some  weeks,  he  started  for  his  home  in  Nacogdoches,  hut  on  tlic  way  his 
thorn-wounds  became  inflamed  anew,  and  when  he  reached  home  "  his  friends  thought  that  he  c<)\ild  not  live 
many  months."     'I'his  was  "  the  last  "   that  the  Zubers  •'  heard  of  liiin." 


SAN  ANTONIO  Dlv  BKXAR. 


The  town  did  not  long  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  Mexicans.  Events  followed 
each  other  rapidly  until  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  after  which  the  dejected  Santa 
Anna  wrote  his  famous  letter  of  capti\-it>-  under  the  tree,  which  for  a  time  relieved 
the  soil  of  Texas  from  hostile  footsteps.  San  Antonio  was  nevertheless  not  free 
from  bloodshed,  though  beginning  to  dri\-e  a  sharp  trade  with  Mexico,  and  to  make 
those  approaches  towards  the  peaceful  arts  which  necessarily  accompan>-  trade. 
The  Indians  kept  life  from  stagnating,  and  in  the  year  1 840  occurred  a  bloody  battle=i= 
with  them  in  the  very  midst  of  the  town.  Certain  Comanche  chiefs,  pending  nego- 
tiations for  a  treaty  of  peace,  had  i)r()mised  to  bring  in  all  the  captives  they  had; 
and  on  the  19th  of  March,  ISIO,  nw-t  tlie  Texan  Commissioners  in  the  Council- 
house  in  San  Antonio,  to  redeem  their  promise.  Leaving  twenty  warriors  and 
thirty-two  women  and  children  oiitside,  twelve  chijfs  entered  the  council-room  and 
presented  the  only  captive  tlie\-  had  1)rought— a  little  white  girl— declaring  that 
they  had  no  others.  This  statement  the  little  girl  pronounced  false,  asserting  that 
it  was  made  solely  for  the  purpose  of  extorting  greater  ransoms,  and  that  slie  had 
but  recently  seen  other  captives  in  their  camp.  An  awkward  pause  followed. 
Presently  one  of  the  chiefs  inquired.   How  the  connnissioners  liked  it?     By  way  of 


re])ly,  the  c<)mi)an\-  of  CaiHain  Howard,  who  had  been  .sent  for,  filed  into  the  room, 
and  the  Indians  were  told  that  the\-  would  be  held  prisoners  until  they  should  send 
some  of  their  party  outside  after  the  rest  of  the  captives.  The  connni.ssionL-rs  tlieii 
rose  and  left  the  room.  As  they  were  in  the  act  of  leaving,  however,  one  ol  the 
Indian  chiefs  altem])ted  to  rush  ihrougii  the  door,  and  being  confronted  In-  the  sen- 
tinel, .sta))])ed  him.  vSeeing  the  sentinel  luul,  and  Captain  Howard  also  stabbed,  the 
other  chiefs  sprang  forward  with  knives  and  bows  and  arrows,  and  the  fight  raged 
until  they  were  all  killed.  Meantime  the  warriors  outside  l)egan  to  fight,  and  en- 
gaged the  coini)an\-  of  Cajjlain  Read;  l)Ul,  taking  shelter  in  a  slone-honse.  were  sur- 
rounded and  killed.  Still  anollur  (U'laehuR-nl  of  the  Indians  managed  to  contiiuie 
the  fight  until  thes-  had  re.iclied  the  oUkm"  sidj  of  llir  river,  when  they  were  linall>- 
despatched.      Thirty-two  Indian  warriorN  and  fixe  Indian  women  and  children  were 


slain,  and  the  re.st  of  llie  women   and   children  were  niaik-  prisoner 
fought  des])eralel>-,  for  se\en  Texans  were'  killed  ami  rij^ht  W()nnde( 


Th 


•ages 


)|-  Darlicul.-iis  of  this  tciiibk-  incoiiiitff  sci 


IS  of  Mrs    M.  A.  M: 


SIDNI'.V   LAXII'R'S   HISTORICAL  SKI'TCII.  89 

Tlic  war  bclWLvn  'iVxas  and  Mexico  lia.l  now  lan^i^uished  for  some  years.  The 
])rojcct  of  annexation  was  nuich  discussed  in  the  Tnited  States;  one  great  objection 
to  it  was  that  the  United  States  would  embroil  itself  with  a  nation  with  which  it 
was  at  peace — Mexico— !)>•  annexiiiK  Texas,  then  at  war.  The  war,  however, 
seemed  likelx  to  die  away;  and  to  prevent  the  remoxal  of  the  obstacle  to  annexation 
in  that  waN,  Mexico  made  feeble  efforts  to  keep  up  such  hostihties  as  might  at  least 
give  color  to  the  assertion  that  the  war  had  not  ended.  Accordingly  in  the  year 
lS42a  Mexican  army  a-ain  invested  San  Antonio.  After  a  short  parley  Colonel 
Hays  withdrew  with  his  small  force,  and  the  Mexicans,  numbering  about  seven 
hundred  men  under  General  X^ascpie/.,  took  po.ssession  of  the  place  and  formally  reor- 
ganized it  as  a  Mexican  town.  They  remained,  however,  onl\-  two  da>s,  and  con- 
ducted themselves,  officiall>-,  with  great  propriet>',  though  the  citizens  are  said  to 
have  lost  a  great  deal  of  valuable  i)r()i)erty  by  unauthorized  depredations  of  ])ri\-ate 
soldiers  and  of  Mexican  citizens  who  accominuiied  the  army  on  its  departure. 

Again  on  the  11th  of  September,  1842,  a  Mexican  army  of  twelve  hundred 
men  under  Gen.  Woll,  sent  probably  by  the  same  policy  which  had  despatched 
the  other,  surprised  the  town  of  San  Antonio,  and,  after  having  a  few  killed  and 
wounded,  took  possession,  the  citizens  having  capitulated.  Gen.  Woll  captured 
the  entire  bar  of  lawyers  in  attendance  on  the  District  Court,  then  in  session,  and 
held  them  as  prisoners  of  war.  He  did  not  escape,  however,  so  easily  as  Gen. 
Vasquez.  The  Texans  gathered  rapidly,  and  by  the  17th  had  assembled  two 
hundred  and  twenty  men  on  the  Salado,  some  six  miles  from  town.  Capt.  Hays, 
with  fifty  men,  decoyed  Gen.  Woll  forth,  and  a  battle  ensued,  from  which  the 
enemy  withdrew  at  sunset  with  a  loss  of  sixty  killed  and  about  the  same  number 
wounded,  the  Texans  losing  one  killed  and  nine  wounded.  It  is  easy  to  believe 
that  the  honest  citizens  of  vSan  Antonio  got  little  sleep  on  that  night  of  the  17th 
of  September,  1S42.  Gen.  Woll  was  busy  making  preparations  for  retreat  ;  and 
the  Mexican  citizens  who  intended  to  accompany  him  were  also  busy  gathering 
up  plunder  right  and  left  to  take  with  them.  At  daylight  they  all  departed. 
This  was  the  last  time  that  San  Antonio  de  Bexar  was  ever  in  Mexican  hands. 

After  annexation,  in  1845,  the  town  began  to  improve.  The  trade  from  cer- 
tain portions  of  Mexico— Chihuahua  and  the  neighboring  States— seems  always  to 
have  eagerly  sought  San  Antonio  as  a  point  of  supplies  whenever  peace  gave  it 
the  opportunity.  Presently,  too,  the  laiited  States  Government  selected  San 
Antonio  as  the  ba.se  for  the  frontier  arm>-  below  El  Paso,  and  the  large  quanti- 
ties of  money  expended  in  connection  with  the  supply  and  transportation  of  all 
materiel  for  so  long  a  line  of  forts  have  contributed  very  materially  to  the  pros- 
perity of  the  town.  From  a  population  of  about  ooOO  in  18-30,  it  increased  to 
10,000  in  lS.-)(x* 

Abandoning  now  this  meagre  historical  .sketch,  and  pursuing  the  order  indi- 
cated in  the  enumeration  of  contrast  and  eccentricities  given  in  the  early  part  of 
this  paper  :  one  finds  in  San  Antonio  the  queerest  juxtaposition  of  civilisations, 
white,  yellow  (Mexican),  red  (Indian),  black  (negro),   and   all  possible  permuta- 

*Saii  .\iitouio  has  now  an  cslimalcil  population  of  .jO.OOli.— \V.  C,   Ivd. 


90  SAN  ANTONIO  DE   BEXAR. 

tions  of  these  significant  colors.     Americans,  Germans,  and   Mexicans;  besides 
these  there  are  probably  representatives  from  all  European  nationalities.  ='^ 

Religious  services  are  regularly  conducted  in  four  languages,  German,  Span- 
ish, English  and  Polish. 

Perhaps  the  variety  of  the  population  cannot  be  better  illustrated  tlian  by  the 
following  "  commodity  of  good  names,"  occurring  in  a  slip  cut  from  a  daily  paper 
of  the  town  a  day  or  two  ago  : 

Matrimoniai,.— The  niatriinoiiial  market  for  a  couple  of  weeks  past  has  been  unusually 
lively,  as  evidenced  by  the  following  list  of  marriage  licenses  issued  during  that  time  :  Cruz 
de  la  Cruz  and  .Manuela  Sauseda  ;  Felipe  Sallaui  and  Maria  del  R.  Lopez  ;  (i.  Isabolo  and 
Rafaela  Urvana ;  Anto.  P.  Rivas  and  Maria  Ouintana  ;  Garmel  Hernandez  and  Seferina  Rod- 
riguez; T.  B.  Leighton  and  Franceska  E.  Schmidt  ;  Rafael  Diaz  and  Michaela  Chavez:  Levy 
Taylor  and  Anna  Simpson,  colored  ;  Ignacio  Andrada  and  Juliana  Baltasar  ;  August  Dubiell 
and  Philomena  Muschell  ;  James  Callaghan  and  Mary  Grenet  ;  Albert  Anz  and  Ida  Pollock  ; 
Stephen  Hoog  and  Mina  vSchneider ;  Wm.  King  and  Sarah  Wilson,  colored  ;  Joseph  McCoy 
and  Jesse  Brown  ;   Valentine  Heck  and  Clara  Hirsch  ;  John  F.  Dunn  and  E.  Annie  Dunn."' 

Much  interest  has  attached,  of  late  years,  to  the  climate  of  San  Antonio,  in 
consequence  of  its  alleged  happy  influence  upon  consumption.  One  of  the  rec- 
ognized "  institutions  "  of  the  town  is  the  consumptives,  who  are  sent  here  from 
remote  parts  of  the  United  States  and  from  Europe,  and  who  may  be  seen  on  fine 
days,  in  various  stages  of  decrepitude,  strolling  about  the  streets.  This  present 
writer  has  the  honor  to  be  one  of  tho.se  strolling  individuals  ;  but  he  does  not  in- 
tend to  attempt  to  describe  the  climate,  for  three  reasons  :  first,  because  it  is  sim- 
ply indescribable  ;  second,  if  it  were  not  so,  his  experience  has  been  such  as  to 
convince  him  that  the  needs  of  consumptives,  in  point  of  climate,  depend  upon 
two  variable  elements,  to  wit,  the  .stage  which  the  patient  has  reached,  and  the 
peculiar  temperament  of  each  individual,  and  that  therefore  any  general  recom- 
mendation of  any  particular  climate  is  often  erroneous  and  sometimes  fatally  de- 
ceptive ;  and  third,  because  he  fortunately  is  able  to  present  some  of  the  facts  of 
the  climate,  which  may  be  relied  upon  as  scientifically  accurate,  and  from  the 
proper  study  of  which  each  intelligent  consumptive  can  make  up  his  mind  as  to 
the  suitableness  of  the  climate  to  his  individual  case.  For  the  past  five  years, 
Dr.  F.  V.  Pettersen,  a  Swedi.sh  physician   and  ardent  lover  of  science,  resident  in 

*Si(Incy  I.aiiier  litre  says  of  the  old  bridge  which  preceded  the  present  one  : 

".At  the  Conunerce  Street  bridge  over  the  San  .Antonio  River,  standsa  post  supporting  a  large  sign  board, 
upon  which  appears  the  following  three  legends  : 

Walk  your  horse  over  this  bridge,  or  you  will  be  fined. 
Schuelles  Reiten  uber  diese  Brucke  ist  verboteii. 
Anda  despacio  con  su  caballo,  6  teme  la  ley. 

To  the  the  meditative  stroller  across  this  bridge— and  on  a  soft  day  when  the  Gulf  breeze  and  the  sunshine  are 
king  and  queen,  any  stranger  may  be  safely  defied  to  cross  this  bridge  zvithoiil  becoming  meditative— there  is  a 
fine  satire  in  the  varying  tone  of  these  inscriptions— for  they  are  by  no  means  faithful  translations  of  each 
other  ;  a  satire  all  the  keener  in  that  it  must  have  been  wholly  uncousciouF.  For  mark  ;  '  Walk  your  horse, 
v:\.c.,  or  you  -Mill  he Jiiifiir  This  is  the  American's  warning  :  the  alternative  is  a  money  consideraiion,  and  the 
appeal  is  solely  to  the  pocket.  Hut  now  the  Otrman  is  simply  informed  that  .vr//;/.//.-.v  Reiten  over  this  bridge  ist 
vcrholen—is  forbidden;  as  who  should  say:  'So,  thou  quiet,  law  abiding  Teuton,  enough  for  thee  to  know  that 
it  is  forbidden  simply.'  And  lastly,  the  Mexican  direction  takes  wholly  a  different  turn  from  either:  Slow 
there  with  yourhorse,  Me.xicano,    '  o  lenie  la  ley,'— ox  'fear  the  lc.v<'.' 

*  This  refers  more  appropriately  to  the  date  of  Sidney  Lanier's  remarks.  Since  that  <l.iy  there  has  been  an 
increasing  influx  of  .Xniericans.-  W.  C  Ivi). 


vSIDNKV  LAXIl'.R'S  HISTORICAL  SKl-TCII. 


91 


San  Antonio,  has  condncted  a  series  of  meteorological  observations  with  accurate 
apparatus  ;  and  the  results  which  follow  have  been  compiled  from  his  records  : 

Mkan  Tiiermo:\ii;T];r. 

.S/'iiii'; 


Seasons 

of  isds 

" 

isc.u 

" 

1S7() 

'• 

1S71 

is7-i 

vSeasons 

of  1 SGS 

" 

ISC)!) 

1X70 

" 

1S71 

' ' 

187-2 

For  the 

year  18(iS 

18()9 

1870 

1871 

1872 

(is.7() 
71.28 
7().r)S 

Mkan  Hyorometkr. 


Slimmer. 

84.3;^, 

s;>,.i() 
<s;!.43 

87.40 

83.ia 


62 
60 
64 
64 


Autumn. 

71.33 

(;7.r)3 

70.66 
68.38 
68.96 


64 

62 
6.") 

(;i 


muUr. 

o4.66 
.")2.93 
51 .30 
54.31 
49.75 


49 


50 
46 


Total  Rainfall. 


46.()()   inches. 

49.03 

35.12 

24. S6 

31. (;2 

These  are  averages,  but  the  view  which  they  present  of  the  climate,  although 
strictly  accnrate  as  far  as  it  goes,  is  by  no  means  complete 

San  Antonio  is  at  an  altitude  of  5()4  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  in  latitude 
29  °  2S',  longitude  9S  °  24'.  It  is  placed  just  in  the  edge  of  a  belt  of  country  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  wide,  reaching  to  the  Rio  Grande,  and  principally  de- 
voted to  cattle-raising Inside,  the  location  of  the  city  is  picturesque.    Two 

streams,  the  San  Antonio  and  San  Pedro  rivers,  run  in  a  direction  generally  par- 
allel, though  specially  as  far  from  parallelism  as  capricious  crookedness  can  make 
itself,  through  the  entire  town.  The  San  Antonio  is  about  sixty  feet  wide;  its 
water  is  usually  of  a  lovely  milky-green.  The  stranger,  strolling  on  a  mild  sunny 
day  through  the  streets,  often  finds  himself  suddenly  on  a  bridge,  and  is  half  start- 
led with  the  winding  vista  of  sweet  lawns  running  down  to  the  water,  of  weeping 
willows  kissing  its  surface,  of  sununer  houses  on  its  banks,  and  of  the  swift  yet 
smooth-shining  stream  meandering  this  way  and  that,  actually  combing  the  long 
sea-green  locks  of  a  trailing  water-grass  which  sends  its  waving  tresses  down  the 
centre  of  the  current  for  hundreds  of  feet,  and  nuinnuring  the  while  with  a  palpa- 
ble Spanish  lisping,  which  floats  up  among  the  r\ulc  noises  of  traffic  along  the 
street,  as  it  were  some  dove-voiced  Spanish  nun  out  of  the  convent 
yonder  praying  heaven's  mitigation  of  the  wild  battle  of  trade.  Leaving  this 
bridge,  walking  down  the  main  (Commerce)  street,  across  the  Main  plaza,  then 
past  the  San  Fernando  Cathedral,  then  across  the  Military  Pla/.a,  one  come  pres- 
ently to  the  San  Pedro,  a  small  stream  ten  or  fifteen  feet  in  width,  up   which  the 


FraL'Uoiis  oiiiillct 


9-^  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

gazing  stroller  finds  no  romance,  but  mostly  strict  use;  for  there  squat  the  Mexican 
women  on  their  haunches,  by  their  flat  stones,  washing  the  family  garments,  in  a 
position  the  very  recollection  of  which  gives  one  simultaneous  stitches  of  lumbago 
and  sciatica,  yet  which  they  appear  to  maintain  for  hours  without  detriment.  .  .  . 
Crossing  the  San  Pedro  we  are  among  the  Jacals,  ....  more  pretentious 
dwellings  are  built  oi  adobes,  or  sun-dried  brick.  The  majority  of  the  substantial 
houses  of  the  town  are  constructed  of  a  whitish  limestone,  so  soft  when  first  quar- 
ried that  it  can  be  cut  with  a  knife,  but  quickly  hardening  by  exposure  into  a 
very  durable  building  material.  In  the  more  pretentious  two-storied  dwellings 
there  are  some  very  good  Moorish  effects  of  projecting  stone  and  lattice- work. 

A  fine  architectural  example  in  the  town   is  the  San   Fernando  Cathedral, 
which  presents  a  broad,  varied  and  imposing  facade  upon  the  western  side  of  the 

Main  Plaza The  curious  dome,   surrounded  by  a  high  wall  over  which 

its  topmost  slit-windows  just  peer — an  evident  relic  of  ancient  Moorish  archi- 
tecture, which  one  finds  in  the  rear  of  most  of  the  old  Spanish  religious  edifices 
in  Texas — has  been  preserved,  and  still  adjoins  the  queer  priests'  dormitories, 
which  constitute  the  rear  end  of  the  cathedral  building. 

There  are  other  notable  religious  edifices  in  town.  Going  back  to  Com- 
merce Street,  one  can  see  a  fine  large  church  for  the  German  Catholics  (San 
Fernando  Cathedral  is  Mexican  Catholic).  Crossing  a  graceful  iron  bridge,  that 
turns  off  to  the  north  from  Commerce  Street,  one  glances  up  and  down  the  stream, 
which  here  flows  between  heavy  and  costly  abutments  of  stone  to  protect  the  rear 
of  the  large  stores  whose  fronts  are  on  the  Main  Street,  and  whose  rear  doors 
open  almost  immediately  over  the  water.  Across  the  bridge  in  this  odd  nook  of 
the  stream  is  St.  Mary's,  the  American  Catholic  Church,  its  rear  adjoining  a  long 
three-storied  stone  convent  building,  and  its  yard  .sloping  down  to  the  water. 
Strolling  up  the  river  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  one  comes  upon  a  long  white  stone 
building,  which  has  evidently  had  much  trouble  to  accommodate  itself  to  the  site 
upon  which  it  is  built,  and  whose  line  is  broken  into  four  or  five  abrupt  angles, 
while  its  roof  is  varied  with  dormer  windows  and  sharp  projections  and  spires  and 
quaint  clock-faces,  and  its  rear  is  mysterious  with  lattice-covered  balconies  and 
half-hidden  corners  and  corridors.  This  is  the  Ursuline  Convent;  and  standing  as 
it  does  on  a  rocky  and  steep  (steep  for  Texas  plains)  bank  of  the  river,  whose 
course  its  l)roken  line  follows,  and  down  to  which  its  long  stern-looking  wall 
descends,  it  is  an  edifice  at  once  piquant  and  sombre,  and  one  cannot  resist  figuring 
Mr.  James'  horseman  spurring  his  charger  up  the  white  limestone  road  that  winds 
alongside  the  wall,  in  the  early  twilight,  when  dreams  come  whispering  down  the 
current  among  the  willow-sprays. 

There  are  notal:>le  places  about  the  town  which  the  stranger  nuist  visit.  He 
may  ride  two  miles  along  a  level  road  between  market  gardens  which  are  vital- 
ised by  a  long  accqicia,  or  ditch,  fed  from  the  river,  and  come  presently  upon  the 
quaint  gray  towers  of  the  old  Mission  Concepcion.='=  The  old  church,  with  its  high- 
walled  dome  in  the  rear,  is  in  a  good  slak-  of  inxscrvation,  and  traces  of  the  sin- 
gular many-colored  frescoing  on  its  front  arc  still  plainly  visil)lc.     Climbing  a  very 

*The  Mission  ol Our  I,a<ly  of  the  Cone, prion  tt,-  Arnnn. 


SlDXIvY  LAXII'R'S  HISTORICAL  SKI'TCH.  5)3 

shaky  ladder,  one  gets  upon  the  roof  of  a  long  stone  corridor  running  off  from  the 
church  building,  and,  taking  good  heed  of  the  sharp-thorned  cactus  which 
abounds  up  there,  looks  over  upon  a  (juaint  complication  of  wall-angles,  nooks, 
and  small-windowed  rooms 

Further  down  the  river  a  couple  of  miles  one  comes  to  the  Mission  San  Jose 
de  Aguayo.  This  is  more  elaborate  and  on  a  larger  scale  than  the  buildings  of 
the  first  Mission,  and  is  still  very  beautiful.  Religious  services  are  regularly  con- 
ducted here;  and  one  can  do  worse  things  than  to  steal  out  here  from  town  on 
some  wonderfully  calm  Sunday  morning,  and  hear  a  mass,  and  dream  back  the 
century  and  a  half  of  strange,  lonesome,  devout,  hymn-haunted  and  Indian- 
haunted  years  that  have  trailed  past  these  walls.  Five  or  six  miles  further  down 
the  river  are  the  ruins  of  the  Mission  San  Juan  in  much  dilapidation. 

Or  the  visitor  may  stroll  off  to  the  eastward,  climb  the  hill,  wander  about 
among  the  graves  of  heroes  in  the  large  cemetery  on  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  and 
please  himself  with  the  noble  reaches  of  country  east  and  west,  and  with  the 
perfect  view  of  the  city,  which  from  here  seems  "  sown,"  like  Tenny.son's,  "  in  a 
monstrous  wrinkle  of  the"  prairie.  Or,  being  in  .search  of  lions,  one  may  .see  the 
actual  animal,  by  a  stroll  to  the  "San  Pedro  Springs  Park,"  a  mile  or  .so  to  the 
northward.  Here,  from  under  a  white-ledged  rocky  hill,  burst  forth  three  crystal- 
line springs,  which  quickly  unite  and  form  the  San  Pedro.  With  spreading 
water-oaks,  rustic  pleasure  buildings,  promenades  along  smooth  shaded  avenues 
between  concentric  artificial  lakes,  a  race-cour.se,  an  aviary,  a  fine  Mexican  lion,  a 
bear-pit  in  which  are  an  emerald-eyed  blind  cinnamon  bear,  a  large  black  bear,  a 
wolf  and  a  r^j'^/.?,  and  other  attractions,  this  is  a  very  green  spot  indeed  in  the 
prairies.  Or  one  may  drive  three  miles  to  northward  and  see  the  romantic  spot 
where  the  San  Antonio  River  is  forever  being  born,  leaping  forth  from  the  moun- 
tain, complete,  totus,  even  as  Minerv^a  from  the  head  of  Jove.  Or  one  may  take 
one's  stand  on  the  Commerce  Street  bridge  and  involve  oneself  in  the  life  that  goes 
by  this  way  and  that.  Yonder  comes  a  long  train  of  enormous  blue-bodied,  can- 
vas-covered wagons,  built  high  and  square  in  the  stern,  much  like  a  fleet  of  Dutch 
galleons,  and  lumbering  in  a  ponderous  wa>-  that  suggests  cargoes  of  silver  and 
gold.  These  are  drawn  by  fourteen  nuiles  each,  who  are  harnessed  in  four  tiers, 
the  three  front  tiers  of  four  mules  each,  and  tliat  next  the  wagon  of  two.  The 
"  lead  "  nudes  are  wee  fellows,  verital)le  nudekins  :  the  next  tier  larger,  and  .so  on 
to  the  two  wheel-mules,  who  are  alwa>-s  as  large  as  can  be  procured.  Yonder 
fares  .slowly  another  train  of  wagons,  drawn  1)>-  great  wide-horned  oxen,  whose 
evident  tendency  to  run  to  hump  and  fore-shoulder  irresistibly  persuades  one  of 
their  cousinship  to  the  buffalo. 

Here,  now,  comes  somewhat  that  shows  as  if  Birnara  Wood  had  been  cut  into 
fagots  and  was  advancing  with  tipsy  swagger  upon  Uunsinane.  Presently,  one's 
gazing  eye  receives  a  .sensation  of  hair,  then  of  enormous  ears,  and  then  the  legs 
appear,  of  the  little  roan-gray  burros,  or  asses,  upon  whose  backs  that  Mexican 
walking  behind  has  managed  to  pile  a  mass  of  mesquite  firewood  that  is  simply 
astonishing.  This  mesquite  is  a  species  of  acacia,  whose  roots  and  body  form  the 
principal  fuel  here.  It  yields,  by  exudation,  a  gum  which  is  quite  equal  to  gum 
arable,  when  the  tannin  in  it  is  extracted.     It  appears  to  have  spread  over  this 


04  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

portion  of  Texas  within  the  last  twenty-five  years,  perhaps  less  time.  The  old 
settlers  account  for  its  appearance  by  the  theory  that  the  Indians — and  after  them 
the  stock-raisers — were  formerly  in  the  habit  of  burning  off  the  prairie-grass 
annually,  and  that  these  great  fires  rendered  it  impossible  for  the  mesquite  shrub 
to  obtain  a  foothold  :  but  that  now  the  departure  of  the  Indians  and  the  transfer 
of  most  of  the  large  cattle-raising  business  to  points  further  westward,  have 
resulted  in  leaving  the  soil  free  for  the  occupation  of  the  mesquite.  It  has 
certainly  taken  advantage  of  the  opportunity.  It  covers  the  prairie  thickly,  in 
many  directions  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  growing  to  a  pretty  uniform  height  of 
four  or  five  feet — though  occasionally  much  larger — and  presenting  with  its  tough 
branches  and  innumerable  formidable  thorns,  a  singular  appearance.  The  wood 
when  dry  is  exceedingly  hard  and  durable,  and  of  a  rich  mahogany  color.  This 
recent  overspread  ot  foliage  on  the  plains  is  supposed  by  many  persons  to  be  the 
cause  of  the  quite  remarkable  increase  of  moisture  in  the  climate  of  San  Antonio 
which  has  been  observed  of  late  years.  The  phenomena — of  the  coincident 
increase  of  moisture  and  of  mesquite — are  unquestionable  ;  but  whether  they  bear 
the  relation  of  cause  and  effect,  is  a  question  upon  which  the  unscientific  lingerers 

on  this  bridge  may  be  permitted  to  hold  themselves  in  reserve 

And  now  as  we  leave  the  bridge  in  the  gathering  twilight  and  loiter  down 
the  street,  we  pass  all  manner  of  odd  personages  and  ' '  characters. ' '  Here 
hobbles  an  old  Mexican  who  looks  like  old  Father  Time  in  reduced  circumstances, 
his  feet,  his  body,  his  head  all  swathed  in  rags,  his  face  a  blur  of  wrinkles,  his 
beard  gray-grizzled — a  picture  of  eld  such  as  one  will  rarely  find.  There  goes  a 
little  German  boy  who  was  captured  a  year  or  two  ago  by  Indians  within  three 
miles  of  San  Antonio,  and  has  just  been  retaken  and  sent  home  a  few  days  ago.* 
Do  you  see  that  poor  Mexican  without  any  hands  ?  A  few  months  ago  a  wagon- 
train  was  captured  by  Indians  at  Howard's  Wells  ;  the  teamsters,  of  whom  he 
was  one,  were  tied  to  the  wagons  and  these  set  on  fire,  and  this  poor  fellow  was 
released  by  the  flames  burning  off  his  hands,  the  rest  all  perishing  save  two. 
Here  is  a  great  Indian-fighter  who  will  show  you  what  he  calls  his  "  vouchers," 
being  scalps  of  the  red  braves  he  has  slain  ;  there  a  gentleman  who  blew  up  his 
store  here  in  '42  to  keep  the  incoming  Mexicans  from  benefiting  by  his  goods,  and 
who  afterwards  spent  a  weary  imprisonment  in  that  stern  castle  of  Perote  away 
down  in  Mexico,  where  the  Mier  prisoners  (and  who  ever  thinks  nowadays  of  that 
strange,  bloody  Mier  Expedition  ?)  were  confined  ;  there  a  portly,  handsome, 
buccaneer-looking  captain  who  led  the  Texans  against  Cortinas  in  '50  ;  there  a 
small,  intelligent-looking  gentleman  who  at  twenty  was  first  Secretary  of  War  of 
the  young  Texan  Republic,  and  who  is  said  to  know  the  history  of  everything 
that  has  been  done  in  Texas  from  that  time  to  this,  minutely  :  and  so  on  through 
a  perfect  gauntlet  of  people  who  have  odd  histories,  odd  natures  or  odd  appear- 
ances, we  reach  our  hotel Sinxiiv   Lanikr. 

*This  was  written  of  1K7:!.— W.  C,  Kl). 


Interviews  and  Memoirs  of  Old  Time  Texans. 


Extracts  from  the  Memoirs  of  Mrs.  M.  A.  Maverick. 

We  have  ])ecii  permitted  l)y  the  kindness  of  the  family  to  examine  this 
remarkal)le  document,  — "This  little  tamily  history  necessarily  private,"  as  it  is 
modestly  described  in  the  preface. 

In  reality  the  Record  is  a  portion  of  the  annals  of  Texas,  and  from  the  early 
days  of  trial  and  difficulty  it  reads  us  besides,  a  latter-day  lesson  of  courage,  pati- 
ence and  fortitude. 

From  the  point  of  view  of  the  historical  trifler,  the  feeling  that  impresses  one, 
on  laying  down  the  manuscript  after  scanning  all  its  lines,  is  as  though  one  had 
stumbled  upon  the  diary  of  a  noble  Roman  matron  of  the  days  ot  Regulus. 

The  few  extracts  and  running  comments  which  follow  will  give  an  idea  of 
the  story — A  tale  not  told  in  heroics,  but  which  simply  worded,  never  falls  short 
of  heroism,  and  which,  in  the  unaffected  courage,  and  affecting  piety  of  its  writer 
is  prol)al)ly  unique. 

vSamuel  Augustus  Maverick  was  born  July  2:],  1S();5,  at  Pendleton,  South  Car- 
olina of  distinguished  revolutionary  stock  of  English  and  Huguenot  extraction. 
Mrs.  Maverick  was  an  Adams— the  Massachusetts  family  transplanted  to  \'irginia 
and  intermarried  with  a  L,ewis  of  that  state. 

Mrs.  Maverick  was  married  Augu.st  4th.  1S;5(),  near  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  her 
mother's  home.  The  family  started  for  Texas  October  14th,  18;-.7;  Mr.  Sam  Mav- 
erick being  then  a  baby  of  five  months.  Mr.  Maverick  senior,  had  been  in  Texas 
in  is;;."),  and  his  friends  thought  him  killed  in  the  Alamo  fight.  As  a  record  of 
old  time  travelling,  and  to  illustrate  the  up-building  of  the  Southwest,  their 
progress  to  the  Lone  Star  State  is  of  interest  in  the.se  days  of  Pullman  sleepers; 
Mrs.  Maverick  says:  "Father  accompanied  us  half  a  day.  .  .  .  We  traveled 
in  a  carriage,  Mr.  Maverick  driving  and  nur.se  Rachel  and  baby  and  myself  the 
other  occupants.  In  a  wagon  with  Wiley  as  driver,  w^as  Jinny  our  future  cook 
and  her  four  children.  We  reached  mother's,  (Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  from  Pendle- 
ton, South  Carolina)  about  the  last  of  October,   and  stopped  with  her  about  six 

months  making  final  preparations December  7th.    ls;!7,   we  set  out 

for  Texas.  .  .  .  Our  part\-  was  composed  of  four  whites  and  ten  negroes. 
The  negroes  were  four  men  (;rinni,  (Granville,  Wiley  and  Uncle  Jim— two  women 
Jinny  and  Rachel,  and  Jinny's  four  children.  .  •.  .  .  We  had  a  large  car- 
riage, a  big  Kentuck\-  wagon,  three  extra  saddle  horses  and  one  blooded  filly. 
The  wagon  carried  a  tent,  a  supply  of  provisions  and  bedding,  and  the  cook  and 
children.  .  .  .  We  occasionally  stopped  several  days  in  a  good  place  to  rest 
and  to  have  washing  done,  and  sometimes  to  give  muddy  roads  time  to  dry.     We 


90  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

crossed  the  Mississippi  at  Rodne}-,  and  Red  river  at  Alexandria,  and  came  through 
bottoms  in  Louisiana  where  the  high-water  marks  in  the  trees  stood  far  above  our 
carriage-top,  but  the  roads  were  good  there  when  we  passed.  We  crossed  the 
Sabine,  a  shiggish,  mudd}-,  narrow  stream,  and  stood  upon  the  soil  of  the  Republic 
of  Texas  about  New  Year's  day  iS.'vS. 

"January  7th,  l.s;5S,  we  occupied  an  empty  cabin  in  San  Augu.stine,  while  the 
carriage  wheel  was  being  repaired.  This  was  a  poor  little  village  principally  of 
log  cabins,  on  one  .street,  but  the  location  was  high  and  dry.  We  laid  in  a  supply 
of  corn  and  groceries  here  and  pushed  on  through  Nacogdoches,  to  the  place  of 
Colonel  Durst,  an  old  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Maverick.  .  .  .  There  we  met 
General  Rusk.     .     .  We  now  had  to  travel  in  occasional  rains  and  much 

mud,  where  the  country  was  poor  and  sparsely  settled  and  provisions  for  man  and 
beast  .scarce.  We,  on  advice,  .selected  the  longest  but  the  best  road,  namely,  the 
one  leading  by  the  way  of  Washington,  high  up  on  the  Brazos.  From  Washing- 
ton we  went  to  Columbus  on  the  Colorado,  and  thence  about  due  south  towards 
the  Lavaca  River.  Now  came  a  dreadful  time.  About  January  •2(3th  we  entered 
a  bleak,  desolate,  swampy  prairie,  cut  up  by  what  are  called  dry  bayous,  and  now 
almost  full  of  water.  This  swamp,  covered  by  the  "  Sand>-,"'  Mustang  and  head 
branches  of  the  Navidad,  was  fourteen  miles  wide.  .  .  .  Every  step  the 
animals  took  was  in  water.  We  "stalled  "'  in  five  or  six  of  the  gullies  and  each 
time  the  wagon  had  to  be  unloaded  in  wind,  water  and  rain,  and  all  the  men  and 
animals  had  to  work  together  to  pull  out.  The  first  "norther  "  struck  us  here,  a 
terrific,  howling  north  wind  with  fine  rain,  blowing  and  penetrating  through 
clothes  and  blankets.  I  never  before  experienced  such  cold.  We  were  four  days 
crossing  this  fourteen  miles  of  dreadful  swamp.  The  first  day  we  made  three 
miles  and  that  night  my  mattress  floated  in  water.  No  one  suffered  from  the 
exposure,  and  Mr.  Maverick  kept  cheerful  all  the  while.  Our  provisions  were 
almost  gone  when,  on  the  oOth,  we  crossed  the  Navidad,  stopping  at  Spring  Hill, 
Major  Sutherland's  place.  Mr.  Maverick  now  went  on  to  see  if  it  was  .safe  to  take 
us  to  San  Antonio,  and  visited  other  points  with  a  view  to  settling,  especially 
Matagorda,  where  he  owned  land. 

"At  Major  Sutherland's  boarded  Captain  Sylvester,  from  Ohio,  who  had 
captured  Santa  Anna  after  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  I  attended  a  San  Jacinto 
ball  at  Texana  on  April  21st.  Here,  too,  I  met  old  'Bowles,'  the  Cherokee 
chief,  with  twelve  or  thirteen  of  his  tribe. 

"After  tea  we  were  dancing  when  P)Owles  came  in  dressed  in  a  breech  cloth, 
anklets,  moccasins  and  feathers  and  a  long  clean  white  linen  shirt  which  had  been 
presented  to  him  in  Houston.  He  said  the  pretty  ladies  in  Houston  had  danced 
with,  kissed  him  and  given  him  rings.  We,  however,  begged  to  be  excu.sed,  and 
even  requested  him  to  retire.  ...  He  stalked  out  in  high  dudgeon,  and  our 
dance  broke  up.  Bowles  told  us  of  President  Houston  living  in  his  Nation,  and 
that  he  had  given  Houston  his  daughter  for  a  squaw,  and  had  made  him  a  big 
chief. 

"June   2nd   we   set  off  for  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  in   tho^^e  days  frequently 

simply  called  Bexar June  12lli,  lalf    in    the  afternoon,  we  reached  camp 

again,  and  were  loading  uj)  to  move  two  or  llnvc  miles  further  to  a  l)etter  camp- 


^II-MOIRS  (H-    MRS.    M.    A.    M.WI-RICK.  97 

ing  place,  when  several  Indians  rode  up.  They  said  '  niucho  amigo,'  and  were 
loud  and  filthy  and  manifested  their  intention  to  be  very  intimate.  More  and 
more  came,  until  we  counted  seventeen  of  them.  They  rode  in  amongst  us, 
looked  greedily  at  the  horses,  and  without  exaggeration  annoyed  us  very  much. 
They  were  Tonkawas  and  kept  repeating  '  mucho  amigo,'  telling  us  further  that 
they  were  just  from  the  Nueces,  where  they  had  fought  the  Comanches  two  days 
previou.sly  and  gained  a  victory.  They  were  in  war-paint  and  well  armed  and 
displayed  in  triumph  two  scaljis,  one  hand  and  several  pieces  of  putrid  flesh  from 
various  parts  of  the  human  Ixxly.  These  were  to  be  taken  to  the  tribe,  when  a 
war-dance  would  ensue  over  the  trophies,  and  they  and  their  squaws  would 
devour  the  flesh.  I  was  frightened  almost  to  death,  but  tried  not  to  show  my 
alarm.  They  rode  up  to  the  carriage  window  and  asked  to  see  the  '  Papoose.' 
I  held  up  the  baby  and  smiled  at  their  compliments,  but  took  care   to   have   my 

pistol  and  bowie  knife  visible  and  kept  cool I  kept  telling  Griffin  to  hurry 

the  others,  and  Mr.  Maverick  worked  cooly  with  the  rest.  Jinny  said,  '  Let's 
cook  some  supper  first,' and  grumbled  mightily  when  Griffin*  ordered  her  into 
the  wagon  and  drove  off.  Imagine  our  consternation  when  the  Indians  turned 
back  and  every  one  of  the  seventeen  followed  us.  It  was  a  l)right  moonlight 
night  and  finally  the  Indians,  finding  us  unsocia])le  and  dangerous,  gradually 
dropi>ed  l)ehind." 

On  June  loth,  1838,  the  travellers  reached  vSan  Antonio,  having  left  home 
October  14th  of  the  previoiis  year.  While  Mrs.  Maverick  was  at  Spring  Hill, 
Mr.  Maverick  made  one  journey  back  to  purchase  household  effects  in  New 
Orleans. 

Mrs.  Maverick  goes  on  to  descril)e  the  San  Antonio  of  the  i)eriod  and  gives 
a  charming  picture  of  the  society  of  tlie  little  coterie  of  Americans  then  living 
here. 

"  r^arly  in  February  18;39,  we  moved  into  our  own  house  at  the  Northeast  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Soledad  streets.  This  house  remained  our  homestead  until  July 
1849 — over  ten  years — altho'  five  of  the  ten  years,  those  from  '12  to  '47  vn-c  wand- 
ered about  as  refugees "     Let  Mrs.  Maverick  describe  a  San  Antonio 

home  of  the  better  class  at  that  period "The  main   house  was  of 

stone,  and  had  three  rooms,  one  fronting  South  on  Main  street  and  West  on  Sole- 
dad  street,  and  the  other  two  fronting  West  on  Soledad;  also  a  shed  along  the 
East  wall  of  the  house  toward  the  north  end.  This  shed  we  closed  in  with  an 
adobe  wall,  and  divided  it  into  a  kitchen  and  servants'  room.  We  also  built  an 
adobe  room  for  the  servants  on  Soledad  street,  leaving  a  gateway  between  it  and 
the  main  hou.se,  and  we  built  a  stable  near  the  river.  We  put  a  strong  picket  fence 
around  the  garden  to  the  North,  and  fenced  the  garden  off  from  the  yard.  In  the 
garden  were  sixteen  large  fig  trees,  ami  man\-  rows  of  pomegranates.  In  the 
yard  were  several  china  trees,  and  on  the  river  bank,  just  below  our  line  on 
the  De  la  Zerda  premises,  was  a  grand  old  cypress  which  we  could  touch  through 
our  fence,   and  its  roots  made  ridges  in  our  yank     It  made  a  great  sliade,  and  we 

*This  Griffin  was  a  faithful  slave,  whoafter  Mr.  Maverick's  capture  at  Sail  Autoino,  in  1S^2,  determined  to  follow 
his  master  into  Mexico  to  serve,  him  as  he  best  might.  He  was  killed  fighting  bravely  with  Dawson's  com- 
mand in  the  beginning  of  the  journey.    Mr.  Maverick  oflcu  remarked:    "  We  owe  (iriffin  a  monument." 


98  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BKXAR. 

erected  our  bath-house  aud  wash  place  iinder  its  spreading  branches.  Our  neigh- 
bors were  the  De  la  Zerdas.  In  1S40  their  place  was  leased  to  a  Greek,  Roque 
Catahii,  who  kept  a  shop  on  the  street  and  lived  in  the  back  rooms.  He  niarrried 
a  pretty  bright-eyed,  laughing  Mexican  girl  of  fourteen  years.  He  dressed  her 
in  jewelry  and  fine  clothes  and  bought  her  a  dilapidated  piano.  He  was  jealous 
and  wished  her  to  amuse  herself  at  home.  The  piano  had  the  desired  effect,  and 
she  enjoyed  it  like  a  child  with  a  new  trumpet.  The  fame  of  her  piano  went 
through  the  town,  and  after  tea,  crowds  would  come  to  witness  her  performance." 

"Our  neighljors  on  the  north  were  Dona  Juana  Varcinez  and  her  sou 
Leonicio.  She  sold  us  milk  at  2o  cents  per  gallon,  pumpkins  at  25  cents  each,  and 
spring  chicken  at  12)2  cents  each.  Butter  was  50  cents  ^  lb.  When  we  returned 
from  the  coast  in  '47,  she  had  sold  her  place  to  Sam  S.  Smith.  (The  Court  House 
stands  there  now,  and  the  son,  Thad.  Smith,  is  there  too  as  County  Clerk).  My  son 
Lewis  Antonio,  was  born  at  this  house  of  ours,  and,  until  quite  recently,  I  was  of 
the  opinion  that  he  was  the  first  child  of  pure  American  stock  born  in  San  Antonio. 
But  now  I  understand  that  a  Mr.  Brown  came  here  with  his  wife  in  1828  from 
East  Texas,  and  during  that  year  a  son  was  born  to  them.  That  son,  John 
Brown,  is  said  to  be  now  a  citizen  of  Waco 

''This  summer  (18o9)  M.  B.  Jaques  brought  his  wife  and  two  little  girls  and 
and  settled  on  Commerce  Street.  Also  Mr.  Elliott  came  wath  his  wife  and  two 
children  and  bought  a  place  on  Soledad  street,  opposite  the  north  end  of  our 
garden.* 

....  "Mr.  Maverick  was  a  member  of  the  Volunteer  Company  of  'Minute 
Men,'  commanded  by  the  celebrated  Jack  Hays,  an  honored  citizen  of  Cah- 
fornia.  He  came  to  Texas  at  the  age  of  eighteen  and  was  appointed  a  deputy 
surveyor.  The  surveying  parties  frequently  had  '  brushes  '  with  the  Indians  and 
on  these  occasions  Jack  Hays  displayed  marked  coolness  and  military  skill,  and 
soon  became  by  unanimous  consent  the  leader  in  all  encounters  with  the  Indians. 
There  were  from  fifty  to  .seventy-five  young  Americans  in  San  Antonio,  at  this 
time,  attracted  l)y  the  climate,  the  novelty  or  by  the  all-absorbing  spirit  of  land 
speculation.  They  came  from  every  one  of  the  United  States.  Many  had  engaged 
in  the  .short  and  bloody  .struggle  of  "35  and  "M\  for  the  freedom  of  Texas.  Some 
possessed  means  and  others  were  carving  out  their  own  fortunes  ;  all  were  filled 
with  the  spirit  of  adventure  and  daring  and  more  or  less  stamped  with  the  weird 
wildness  of  the  half-known  West. 

"They  were   a  n()])le  set  of  '  boys,'  as  they  styled  one  another,   and  were  ever 

ready  to  take  horse  and  follow   Hays  to  the   Indian  strongholds They 

accomplished  wonders,  for  in  a  few  years  they  crushed  the  Comanche  Nation  and 
tlie  countr\'  around  vSan  Anionio  became  habitable. 

"  The  signals  for  their  exi)editions  were  the  ringing  of  the  Cathedral  bell  and 
the  hoi.sting  the  flag  of  the  Republic  in  front  of  the  Court  House." 

Mrs.  Maverick  tells  ofmniN-  dejjredalions  l)y  Mexicans  and  Indians,  showing 
the  insecurity  of  the  place  e\en  up  to  the  \er\-  walls  of  San  Antonio. 

^  .%!r.  Thoiii.is  MiKKiiit")tli.-iin.  a  caipfiitcr  and  liis  wiTc,  look  the  house  opposite  us  on  the  corner  of 
Commerce  Street  ami  Main  I'laza,  wliere  the  Danenhauer  buililinKuow  slauds. 


MI-MOIRS  ()I<    MRS.   M.   A.   M.W'l-RICK.  99 

"This  year  (ISoi))  our  negro  men  plowed  and  i)lanR(l  one  labor  above  the 
Alamo,  and  were  attacked  by  Indians.  Orifini  and  W'iky  ran  into  the  River  and 
saved  themselves.  The  Indians  cut  the  traces  and  took  off  the  work  horses.  We 
did  not  farm  again." 

Here  is  a  riding  party  of  the  period  :  — 

"  In  November,  IS.",;),  a  i)arty  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  came  frcnn  Houston  to 
visit  San  Antonio.  They  rode  on  horseback.  The  ladies  were  Miss  Trask,  of 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  Miss  Evans,  daughter  of  Judge  Evans,  of  Texas.  The  gentle- 
men were  Judge  Evans  and  Col.  J.  W.  Darcey,  Secretary  of  War  of  the  Republic 
of  Texas.  Ladies  and  all  were  armed  with  pistols  and  bowie  knives.  I  rode  with 
this  party  and  some  others  around  the  Head  of  the  San  Antonio  River.  We  gal- 
loped up  the  West  side  and  paused  at  and  above  the  Springs  long  enough  to  admire 
the  lovely  valley  of  the  San  Antonio.  The  leaves  were  almost  all  fallen  from  the 
trees,  leaving  the  view  open  to  the  Missions  below  town.  The  day  was  clear,  cool 
and  bright,  and  we  could  see  as  far  as  San  Juan  Capistrano,  seven  miles  below 
town.  We  galloped  home  down  the  east  side,  and  doubted  not  that  the  Indians 
watched  us  from  the  heavy  timl)er  of  the  River  l)ottom. 

"  In  the  fall  of  1889  or  '40,  eighteen  dead  bodies  were  brought  in  from  the 
edge  of  town  and  laid  out  in  the  Court  Hou.se.  They  were  the  remains  of  a  party 
who  had  been  surprised  and  cut  off  while  out  riding,  a  Mr.  Campbell  alone 
escaping  by  the  fleetness  of  his  horse.  The  bodies  had  been  found  naked,  hacked 
with  tomahawks  and  partly  eaten  by  wolves.  The  following  day  the  nine  Ameri- 
cans were  buried  in  one  large  grave  west  of  the  San  Pedro,  outside  of  the  Catholic 
burying  ground,  and  very  near  its  .southwest  corner.  The  nine  Mexicans  were 
buried  inside  the  graveyard.          ...... 

' '  Indians  being  so  numerous  and  '  bad '  makes  agricultural  produce  dear. 
Farming  reminds  one  of  the  difficulties  of  the  Jews  on  their  return  from  the  capti\-ity 
or  the  first  plantings  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers.  Corn  selling  from  two  to  three  dollars  a 
bushel." 

Mrs.  Maverick  was  an  eye  witness  of  the  terrible  hand  to  hand  conflict  with 
the  Comanche  braves  in  1840.  The  fight  was  nothing  less  than  Homeric.  We 
give  it  in  her  own  words  :  "On  Tuesday,  March  I'.tth,  1S4(),  (dia  de  San  Jose) 
.sixt3'-five  Comanches  came  into  the  town  to  make  a  treat}-.  They  brought  with 
them,  and  reluctantly  gave  up,  Matilda  Lockhart,  whom  they  had  captured  with 
her  \-ounger  sister,  in  December,  1838,  after  killing  two  others  of  the  family.  The 
Indian  chiefs  and  men  proceeded  to  the  Court  House  where  they  met  the  city  and 
military  authorities.  The  jail  then  occuj^ed  the  corner  formed  by  the  east  line  of 
Main  Plaza  and  the  north  line  of  Calal)()sa  (now  Market)  street,  and  the  Court 
House  was  north  of  and  adjoining  the  jail.  The  Court  Hou.se  yard,  back  of  the 
Court  Hou.se,  was  what  is  now  the  City  Market  on  Market  street.*  The 
Court  House  and  Jail  were  of  stone,  one' story,  flat  roofed  and  floored  with  dirt. 
Captain  Tom  Howard's  Company  was  at  first  in  the  Court  Hou.se  yard.  The 
Indian  women  and  boys  came  in  there  too  and  remained  during  the  pow-wow. 


100  SAN  ANTONIO  DIC  BEXAR. 

' '  The  3'oung  Indians  amused  tlieniselves  shootiui^  arrows  at  pieces  of  money 
put  up  by  some  of  the  Americans. 

"  I  adjourned  oyer  to  Mrs.  Higginbotham's,  whose  place  adjoined  the  Court 
House  yard,  and  we  watched  the  young  savages  through  the  picket  fence. 

"  This  was  the  third  time  the  Indians  had  come  for  a  talk,  pretending  to  seek 
peace  and  trjing  to  get  ransom  money  for  their  American  and  Mexican  captives. 
Their  present  proposition  was  that  they  should  be  paid  an  enonnous  price  for 
Matilda  Lockhart  and  a  Mexican  they  had  just  given  up,  and  that  traders  be  sent 
with  paint,  powder,  flannel,  blankets  and  such  other  articles  as  they  .should  name 
to  ransom  the  other  captives.  This  course  had  been  adopted  once  before,  and  when 
the  traders  reached  the  Indian  camp  the  smallpox  broke  out  amongst  them,  and 
they  killed  the  traders,  alleging  that  they  had  introduced  the  disease  to  kill  off  the 
Indians.  After  the  slaughter  thej-  retained  both  the  captives  and  the  goods.  Now, 
the  Americans,  mindful  of  the  treachery  and  duplicity  of  the  Indians,  an.swered  as 
follows  : 

"  '  We  will,  according  to  a  former  agreement,  keep  four  or  five  of  your  chiefs 
and  the  others  of  you  shall  go  to  your  Nation  and  bring  all  the  captives  here,  and 
then  we  will  pa}^  all  you  ask  for  them.  Meanwhile,  the  chiefs  we  hold  we  will 
treat  as  brothers,  and  not  one  hair  of  their  heads  shall  be  injured.  This  we  have 
determined  upon,  and  if  you  resist  our  soldiers  wall  shoot  you  down.' 

"  The  above  ultimatum  being  interpreted,  the  Comanches,  instantl)^  and  as 
one  man,  raised  a  terrific  war-whoop,  drew  their  bows  and  arrows  and  com- 
menced firing  with  deadly  effect,  at  the  same  time  endeavoring  to  break  out  of  the 
Council  Hall.  The  order,  '  Fire  ! '  was  given  by  Capt.  Howard  and  the  soldiers 
fired  into  the  midst  of  the  crowd.  The  first  volley  killed  several  Indians  and  two 
of  our  own  people.  Soon,  all  rushed  out  into  the  pubhc  square,  the  civilians  to 
procure  arms,  the  Indians  to  escape  and  the  soldiers  in  clo.se  pursuit.  The  Indians 
generally  .struck  out  for  the  River.  Some  fled  southeast  towards  Bowen's  Bend, 
some  ran  east  on  Commerce  street  and  some  north  on  Soledad.  Soldiers  and  citi- 
zens pursued  and  overtook  them  at  all  points:  Some  w^ere  shot  in  the  River  and 
some  in  the  streets.  Several  hand-to-hand  encounters  took  place,  and  .some 
Indians  took  refuge  in  stone  houses  and  closed  the  doors.  Not  one  of  the  sixty-five 
Indians  escaped  ;  thirty-three  were  killed  and  thirty-two  taken  prisoners. 

"  Six  Americans  and  one  Mexican  were  killed  and  ten  Americans  wounded. 
Our  killed  were  Julian  Hood  the  Sheriff,  Judge  Thomp.son  an  attorney  from 
South  Carolina,  G.  W.  Cayce,  from  the  Brazos,  and  one  officer  and  two  .soldiers 
and  one  Mexican  whose  names  I  did  not  learn.  Those  severely  wounded  were 
Lieutenant  Thompson  brother  of  the  Judge,  Captain  Tom  Howard,  Captain  Mat. 
Caldwell  a  citizen  volunteer  from  Gonzales,  Judge  Robinson,  Mr.  Morgan  Deputy 
Sheriff,  Mr.  Higginbotham  and  two  soldiers.     Some  others  were  .slightly  wounded. 

"When  the  deafening  war-whoop  sounded  in  llie  Court  Room,  it  was  so  loud 
and  shrill,  so  .sudden  and  inexpressibly  horrible,  that  we  women,  looking  through 
the  fence  cracks,  for  a  moment  could  not  comprehend  its  purport.  The  Indian 
boys,  however,  instantly  recognized  its  meaning,  and  turning  their  arrows  upon 
Judge  Robinson  and  other  gentlemen  standing  nearby,  slew  the  Judge  on  the  .spot. 


MlvMOTRS  OI'   MRS.   M.   A.   MAVI-:RICK.  101 

We  fled  precipitately,  Mrs.  Higgiiibotliain  into  her  house  and  I  across  the  street  to 
my  Commerce  street  door.  Two  Indians  rushed  by  me  on  Com'ne-ce  *acet  and 
another  reached  my  door,  and  turned  to  push  it,  just  as  I  slanuneil  it  to  and  iieat 
down  the  heavy  bar.  I  rushed  into  tlie  house  and  in  tlic  north  njoni  found  my 
husband  and  my  brother  Andrew  sitting  calmly  at  a  table  inspecting  some  plats  of 
surveys.  They  had  heard  nothing  !  I  soon  gave  them  the  alarm,  and  hurried  by  to 
look  after  my  bo)-s.  Mr.  Maverick  and  Andrew  seized  their  arms.  Mr.  Maverick 
rushed  into  the  street  and  Andrew  into  the  back  yard  where  I  was,  now  shouting 
at  the  top  of  my  voice,  '  Here  are  Indians  !  Here  are  Indians  !  '  Three  Indians 
had  gotten  in  through  the  gate  on  Soledad  street  and  were  making  towards  the 
River.  One  had  stopped  near  Jinny  Anderson,  our  cook,  who  stood  bravely  in 
front  of  the  children,  mine  and  hers.  vShe  held  a  great  stone  in  her  hands,  lifted 
above  her  head,  and  I  heard  her  cry  out  to  the  Indians  :  '  G'way  from  heah,  or 
I'll  mash  your  head  with  this  rock  ! '  The  Indian  seemed  regretful  that  he  hadn't 
time  to  dispatch  Jinny  and  her  l)rood  ;  but  his  time  was  short,  and,  pausing  but  a 
moment,  he  turned  and  rushed  down  the  bank,  jumped  into  the  River  and  struck 
out  for  the  o])i)osite  shore.  As  tlie  Indian  hurried  down  tlie  bank  my  brother  ran 
out  in  answer  to  my  loud  calls.  While  the  Indian  was  swimtning,  Andrew  drew 
his  unerring  bead  on  him.  Another  Indian  was  climbing  the  opposite  bank 
and  was  about  to  escape,  but  Andrew  brought  him  down  also.  Then  Andrew 
rushed  up  Soledad  .street  looking  for  more  Indians. 

"  I  housed  my  little  ones  and  then  looked  out  of  the  Soledad  .street  door. 
Near  by  was  stretched  an  Indian  wounded  and  dying.  A  large  man,  an  employe 
of  Mr.  Higginbotham,  came  up  just  then  and  aimed  a  pistol  at  the  Indian's  head. 
I  called  out,  '  Oh,  don't  ;  he  is  dying  !  '  and  the  big  American  laughed  and  said, 
'  Well,  to  please  you  I  won't ;  but  it  would  put  him  out  of  his  misery.'  Then  I 
saw  two  others  lying  dead  near  by. 

"  Captain  I^ysander  Wells,  about  this  time,  passed  by  riding  north  on  Soledad 
street.  He  was  mounted  on  a  gaily  capari.soned  Mexican  horse,  with  .silver- 
mounted  saddle  and  bridle,  which  outfit  he  had  secured  to  take  back  to  his  native 
State  on  a  visit  to  his  mother.  As  he  reached  the  Veramendi  house,  an  Indian 
who  had  escaped  detecticm,  rushed  out  from  his  hiding  place,  and  jumping  upon 
the  horse  behind  Wells,  clasped  his  arms  and  tried  to  catch  hold  of  the  bridle  reins. 
The  two  men  struggled  some  time,  bent  back  and  forwards  and  swa>ed  from  sick- 
to  side,  until  at  last.  Wells  managed  to  hold  the  Indian's  arms  with  his  right  hand 
and  with  his  left  to  draw  his  pistol  from  the  holster.  He  turned  partly  round, 
placed  the  pistol  against  the  Indian's  body  and  fired, — a  moment  more  and  the 
Indian  rolled  off  and  dropped  dead  to  the  ground.  Wells  put  spurs  to  his  horse 
and  did  good  service  in  the  piu'suit. 

"  I  had  become  so  fascinated  by  this  struggle  that  1  had  unconsciously  gone 
into  the  middle  of  the  street,  when  Lieutenant  Chevalier,  who  was  pa.ssing,  called 
out  to  me  :  '  Are  3'ou  crazy  ?  Go  in  or  you  will  be  killed  ?  '  I  obeyed  ;  but  my 
curiosity  and  anxiety  again  got  the  better  of  me,  cuid  I  peeped  out  on  Commerce 
street  where  I  saw  the  dead  bodies  of  four  or  fi\-e  Indians.  ...  It  was  dark 
when    Mr.  Maverick  and  Andrew  returned.  ... 


102  SAN  ANTONIO  DK  BKXAR. 

"  Stev'eial  incidents  occurred  soon  after  the  fight  of  the  lUth  which  are  worth 
7;,aiTating,.  Qn.  March  28th,  250  or  300  Comanches  under  a  dashing  young  chief, 
Isiniauica,  cauie  close  to  the  edge  of  the  town,  where  the  main  body  halted,  while 
Chief  Isimanica  and  another  w^arrior  rode  daringly  into  the  Public  Square  and 
circled  around  the  Plaza,  then  rode  some  distance  down  Commerce  street  and  back, 
shouting  all  the  while,  offering  to  fight,  and  heaping  abuse  and  insults  on  the 
Americans.  Isimanica  was  in  full  war-paint  and  almost  naked,  He  stopped  quite 
a  while  in  front  of  Bluck's  saloon,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  square.  He 
shouted  defiance,  ro.se  in  his  stirrups,  shook  his  clenched  fist,  raved,  and  foamed  at 
the  mouth. 

"  The  citizens,  through  an  interpreter,  told  him  that  the  soldiers  were  all 
down  at  the  Mission  San  Jo.se  de  Aguayo,  and  that  if  he  went  there  Colonel  Fisher 
would  give  him  fight  enough. 

' '  Isimanica  took  his  braves  to  San  Jose,  and  with  fearless  daring  bantered  the 
.soldiers  for  a  fight.  Colonel  Fisher  was  sick  in  bed  and  Captain  Redd,  the  next  in 
rank,  was  in  command.  He  said  to  the  chief:  '  We  have  made  a  twelve  days' 
truce  with  your  people,  in  order  to  exchange  prisoners.  My  country's  honor  is 
pledged,  as  well  as  my  own,  to  keep  the  truce,  and  I  will  not  break  it.  Remain 
here  three  days,  or  return  in  three  days,  and  the  truce  will  be  over.  We  burn  to 
fight  you.'  Isimanica  called  him  'liar,'  'coward,'  and  other  opprobrious 
names,  and  hung  around  for  some  time  ;  but;  at  last,  the  Indians  left  and  did  not 
return.  Captain  Redd  remained  calm  and  unmoved  throughout  this  stormy  talk, 
but  his  men  could  with  difficulty  be  restrained  ;  and,  in  fact,  some  of  them  were 
ordered  into  the  Mission  church  and  guarded  there. 

"When  Captain  I^ysander  Wells,  who  was  in  town,  heard  of  all  this,  he  wrote 
Captain  Redd  a  letter,  in  which  he  called  him  a  '  dastardly  coward, '  and  alluded 
to  a  certain  petticoat  government,  under  which  he  intimated  the  Captain  was 
restrained.  This  allusion  had  reference  to  a  young  woman  who,  dressed  in  boy's 
apparel,  had  followed  Redd  from  Georgia  and  was  now  living  with  him.  This 
letter  of  Wells  was  signed,  much  to  their  shame,  by  several  others  in  San  Antonio. 

"Colonel  P'isher  removed  his  entire  force  of  three  companies  to  the  Alamo  in 
San  Antonio.  Redd  challenged  Wells  to  mortal  combat,  and  one  morning  at  G 
o'clock  they  met  where  the  Ursuhne  Convent  now  stands.  Facing  his  antagonist, 
Redd  coolly  remarked:  '  I  aim  for  your  heart '  ;  and  Wells  replied:  'And  1  for 
your  brains.'  They  fired!  Redd  sprang  into  the  air,  and  fell  dead  with  a  bullet 
in  his  brain.  Wells,  too,  in  fulfillment  of  their  fearful  repartee,  was  shot  very  near 
the  heart ;  he,  however,  li^•ed  a  fortnight  in  great  agony,  begging  every-  one  near 
him  to  dispatch  him  or  furnish  him  with  a  pistol  to  kill  him.self.  Dr.  Weidemann,  of 
whom  more  anon,  nursed  him  tenderh'.  It  turned  out  that  the  girl  before  referred 
to  was  married  to  Redd,  and  they  found  the  marriage  license  and  ccrtificale  in  his 
pocket  ;  also  letters  to  members  of  his  own  and  her  families,  .speaking  of  her  in  the 
tenderest  manner  and  asking  them  to  protect  and  provide  for  her.  She  followed 
him  to  the  grave  and  seemed  heart-1)roken,  and  soon  thereafter  returned  to  her 
peoi)le."    .... 


M1':M()IRS  Ol'    MRS.    M.    A.    M.WI'RICK.  103 

Mrs.  Maverick  ^iN'^^s  lcrril)le  accounts  of  the  fearful  treatment  of  captives  by  the 
Indians,  and  her  narrative  is  another  warrant  for  the  behef  that  the  only  "good 

Indian  is  a  dead  one." 

"Matilda  Lockhart,  who  came  in  on  March  10th,  had  been  in  captivity  about 
two  )ears.  When  she  was  taken,  two  of  her  family  were  slain  and  she  and  her 
little  sister  were  taken  prisoners.  At  that  time  she  was  thirteen  and  her  sister 
three  years  old.  She  came  along  with  the  Indian  party  as  a  herder  driving  a  herd 
of  extra  hor.ses — thus  the  Indians  could   change  horses  from   time  to  time   for 

fresher  ones She  was  in  a  frightful  condition,  poor  girl Her  head, 

arms  and  face  were  full  of  brui.ses  and  sores,   and  her  nose  actually  Inirned  off  to 
the  bone. 

••March  26th,  Mrs.  Webster  came  in  with  her  three-year-old  child  on  her  back. 
The  poor,  miserable  being  was  so  unlike  a  white  woman  that  the  Mexicans  hailed 
her  as  '  Indio  !  Indio  ! '  She  came  into  the  Public  Square  from  the  west  and 
was  dressed  as  an  Indian,  in  buckskin,  her  hair  was  cut  short  and  square  upon  her 
forehead,  and  she  was  sunburned  dark  as  a  Comanche.  She  called  out  in  good 
English,  however,  saying  she  had  escaped  from  Indian  captivity.  She  was  im- 
mediately taken  into  John  W.  Smith's  house,  and  we  American  ladies  gathered 
to  see  her  and  care  for  her.  She  was  very  tired  and  hungry  and  almost  exhausted. 
Her  story  was  as  follows:  She  came  to  Texas  from  Virginia  early  in  1885, 
with  her  hu.sband,  who,  she  claimed,  was  a  relative  of  Daniel  Webster.  They  built 
a  house  northeast  of  Austin;  and  in  August  of  that  year  her  husband  was  removing 
her  and  her  four  children  to  to  this  wild  home.  They  had  also  in  the  party  two 
negroes  and  one  white  man.  The>-  were  camped  one  evening  on  Brushy  Creek, 
not  far  north  of  Austin,  when  a  large  l)ody  of  Comanches  suddenly  attacked  them. 
The  three  men  fought  bravely,  but  were  overpowered  and  killed.  Mrs.  Webster's 
infant  was  taken  from  her  arms  and  its  brains  dashed  out  against  a  tree  and  her 
second  child  killed.  She  and  her  eldest  boy,  '  Booker  '  were  tied  upon  horses 
and  she  held  her  child  of  two  years  so  tightly  to  her  breast  and  pleaded  so  pite- 
ously  for  its  life  that  the  Indians  left  it  with  her.  They  were  taken  by  rapid 
marches  to  the  mountains,  where  they  stripped  '  Booker  '  and  shaved  his  head. 
He  was  attacked  with  brain  fever,  and  an  old  squaw,  who  had  just  lost  a  son  of 
his  age,  adopted  him  and  nursed  him  very  tenderly.  The  Indians  let  her  keep  her 
little  girl,  but  forbade  her  talking  to  her  son.  They  made  her  cook  and  stake  out 
ponies  and  beat  her  continually.  She  had  been  nineteen  months  in  captivity  when 
she  seized  a  favorable  opportunity  to  escape.  It  was  one  night  after  a  long  day's 
march,  when,  having  learned  the  general  direction  of  San  Antonio,  she  quietly 
.slipped  out  of  camp  with  her  child  in  her  arms  and  bent  her  steps  towards  Bexar. 
She  spent  twelve  terrible  days  on  the  road  without  meeting  a  human  being.  She 
sustained  herself  all  this  while  on  berries,  small  fish  which  she  caught  in  the 
streams  and  on  bones  which  she  sucked  and  chewed.     Sometimes  she  gave  up  and 

almost  resigned  herself  to  death The  morning  of  the  2(;th  a  fog  came  on, 

and  unable  to  see  any  distance  thiough  the  fog,  she  gave  up  all  for  lost  and  lay 
down  in  utter  despair.  Soon  the  sun  shone  out  and  the  fog  disappeared,  when, 
looking  towards  the  East,  she  saw  a  "golden  cro.ss  shining  in  the  sky."  Then 
she  felt  that  God  had  answered  her  prayers,  and  again  took  up  the  march  w^ith  a 


104  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

thankful  heart.     She  approached  the  g^oldeii  cross  with  earnest  steps.     It  proved 
to  be  the  cross  of  the  Cathedral  of  San  Eernando'"^  in  San   Antonio  " 

In  the  j^reat  raid  to  Lavaca  Bay,  in  August,  IS  10,  when  Linnville  was 
sacked  and  General  Eelix  Houston  inflicted  a  memorable  defeat  on  the  Indians, 
Mrs.  Maverick  lost  man}-  household  effects  en  7'oute  from  New  Orleans.  Amongst 
other  things,  was  a  set  of  law  books  for  Mr.  Maverick.  These  were  heard  from 
as  being  "  tacked  b^-  strings  to  the  Indians'  saddle-bows  and  then  used  as  cigar- 
ette papers.  This  shows  how  little  respect  the  Indians  had  for  Blackstone  and 
the  law." 

The  temptation  to  quote  is  constant  ;  in  1841  we  read  about  the  society  of 
San  Antonio  as  follows  : 

"  We  began,  now,  to  have  a  society  and  great  sociability  amongst  ourselves, 
the  Americans.  During  this  summer,  1841,  Mr.  Wilson  Riddle  brought  his  bride 
and  Mr.  Moore  his  famil}-.  These  gentlemen  were  both  merchants  on  Commerce 
street.  Mr.  John  Twohig  (the  present  banker)  started  a  small  grocery  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Commerce  street  and  Main  Plaza.  Mrs.  Jaques  had  a  boarding  house  at  south 
west  corner  of  Commerce  and  Yturri  streets.  She  had  a  considerable  place  rented 
from  Yturri,  boarded  all  the  nice  young  Americans,  and  was  very  hospitable  and 
pleasant.     She  was  a  good  nurse,  very  kind  to  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  was 

very  popular  with  the  gentlemen President  Eamar,  with  a   very 

considerable  suite,  visited  San  Antonio  in  June.  A  grand  ball  was  given  him  in 
Mrs.  Yturri's  '  long  room,' — all  considerable  houses  had  a  '  long  room  '  for  recep- 
tions— the  room  was  decorated  with  flags  and  evergreens,  flowers  were  not  much 
cultivated  then  ;  at  the  ball  General  lyamar  wore  very  wide  trousers  which,  at  the 
same  time,  were  short  enough  to  show  the  tops  of  his  shoes.  The  General  and 
Mrs.  Juan  N.  Seguin,  wife  of  the  Mayor,  opened  the  ball  with  a  waltz. 
We  were  forced  to  smile,  for  the  gallant  President,  although  a  poet  and  a  first  rate 
conversationalist,  could  not  dance.  ...  At  this  ball  Hays,  Chevalier  and 
Howard  had  but  one  dress  coat  between  them,  and  the}-  agreed  to  use  the 
coat  and  dance  in  turn  ;  the  ones  not  dancing  would  stand  at  the  door  and  watch 
the  happy  tenant  of  the  garment  disporting  himself  on  the  floor,  at  the  same  time 
continually  making  faces  to  remind  him  that  his  time  was  up.  Their  by-play  and 
good  humor  furnished  quite  a  diversion  and  amused  us  very  much 

"  During  this  summer  the  American  ladies  led  a  lazy  life  of  ease.  We  h;ul 
plenty  of  books,  including  novels.  We  were  all  young,  healthy  and  happy,  and 
were  content  with  each  other's  .society.  We  read,  joked  and  laughed  away  the 
time  and  in  those  days  there  were  no  envyings  and  no  backbiting.  .  .  .  Now 
that  merchants  were  establishing  themselves  on  Commerce  street,  l)athing  at  our 
place  had  become  rather  public,  so  we  ladies  got  permission  of  old  Senora 
Treviiio  to  erect  a  bath  house  on  her  premises,  some  distance  north  on  Soledad 
street,  afterwards  the  homestead  of  the  Jaques  family.  Thither  we  went  in  a 
crowd  every  afternoon  at  about  four  o'clock,  taking  the  children  and  their  nurses 
with  us  and  a  dainty  lunch  prepared  ])>'  one  of  us  in  turn  to  eat  after  tlie  ixUli." 

*  TlK-n  Uk-  I'arisli  Cliiiich, 


^:=S^S^^ 


-/}: 

'\,/»' 

^ 

\ 

\,i 

\    '  /M- 

r^ 


n\#  .;%^''  iw'   ^1       ^^    -^ 


') 


SKETCHES  OF  WESTERN  TEXAS. 
COWTSOV  l.IFE. 


MI'MOIRS  ()!•    MRS.    M.    A.    M  .WlvRICK.  105 

An  eccentric  characteroftho.se  ilays  was  a  Doctor  Weidemann,— his  memory 
i.s  worth  keeping-  green  as  showing  that  the  present  cosmopolitan  characteristics 
of  San  Antonio  are  congenital,  so  to  speak.  .  .  .  "He  was  a  Rnssian  scholar 
and  naturalist,  and  an  excellent  physician  and  surgeon  ;  a  highly  cultivated  man 
and  spoke  many  languages,  and  he  had  been  a  great  traveler.  He  lived  on  the 
old  Chavez  place  on  Acequia  street.  I  remember  that  on  the  night  of  the  Indian 
fight  of  March  19th,  1840,  I  visited  Mrs.  Higginbotham,  as  I  have  before  stated. 
While  I  was  there  Dr.  Weidemann  came  up  to  her  grated  front  window  and 
placed  a  severed  Indian  head  upon  the  sill.  The  good  Doctor  i^owed  courteously, 
and  saying:  'With  your  permis.sion,  Madam,'  disappeared.  Presently  he 
returned  with  another  bloody  head,  when  he  explained  to  us  that  he  had  exam- 
ined all  the  dead  Indians  and  had  selected  these  heads,  male  and  female,  for  the 
skulls.  ])e.sides  two  entire  bodies,  to  preserve  as  skeletons.  He  saiil,  '  I  have 
been  longing  exceedingly  to  secure  such  specimens,  and  now.  ladies.  I  must  get 
a  cart  to  take  them  home.'  Dr.  Weidemann  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
fight,  and  done  good  service  mounted  on  his  fine  horse,  and  now  he  was  all 
begrimed,  bloody  and  dirty,  the  result  of  his  labors  as  a  warrior,  surgeon  and 
scientist.  He  soon  returned  with  the  cart  loaded  with  his  magnificent  speci- 
mens, took  the  two  heads  from  the  window  and  departed 

That  night  he  stewed  the  bodies  in  a  soap  boiler,  and  when  the  flesh  was  com- 
pletely dessicated,  emptied  the  cauldron  into  the  Ace(iuia.  Now,  this  ditch 
furnished  the  drinking  water  generally  for  the  town  ;  it  being  understood  that 
the  River  and  the  San  Pedro  were  reserved  for  bathing  and  washing.  There  was 
a  city  ordinance  to  this  effect  coupled  with  a  heavy  fine.  On  the  21st  it  dawned 
upon  the  dwellers  on  the  banks  of  the  ditch  that  the  Doctor  had  defiled  the 
drinking  water,and  that  probably  they  had  taken  in  particles  of  Indian  in  their  fluid. 
The  people,  very  properly,  gathered  in  indignation,  a  niol;  rushed  to  the  Mayor's 
office,  the  men  talked  in  loud  and  excited  tones,  tlic  women  shrieked  and  cried, 
they  rolled  up  their  eyes  in  horror,  they  vomited,  and  some  of  them  were  so 
frightened  that  they  suffered  mis-carriage.  Many  thought  they  were  poisoned 
and  would  die.  Dr.  Weidemann  was  arrested  and  brought  to  trial  :  they 
overwhelmed  him  with  abuse,  and  called  him  '  diablo,'  '  demonio.' 
'.sin  verguen/.a,'  and  so  forth.  He  took  it  calmly,  assured  them  the 
Indians  had  all  sailed  by  in  the  night,  paid  his  fine,  and  went  away 
laughing.  Once  the  Doctor  lost  his  watch.  He  suspected  one  of  his 
servants — Jo.se  ;  and  after  waiting  in  vain  for  him  to  confess  and  give 
up  the  property,  he  determined  to  get  his  own  again  by  magic.  He  invited 
a  party  to  .see  the  fun,  and  arraying  himself  in  a  figured  gown  and  a 
conical  hat.  and  ])reparing  a  fire  and  cauldron  on  the  roof  of  his  house,  he 
summoned  all  his  servants  to  his  presence  and  announced  that  they  were  all  to 
dip  their  hands  into  the  pot  :  at  the  same  time  informing  them  that  the  hand  of 
the  guilty  one  would  turn  black.  The  con.science-stricken  Jose  waited  till  the 
last,  all  the  others  had  come  through  the  ordeal  with  clean  hands.  He  at  last 
approached,  plunged  in  his  hand,  and  when  he  withdrew  it,  lo,  it  was  black  1 
The  wretched  man  confes.sed  in  terror,  and  immediately  gave  up  the  watch. 
Thereafter  no  Mexican  passed  Dr.  Weidemann  without  crossing  himself,  for  they 
all  firmly  believed  he  was  in  league  with  the  Devil.     The  Doctor  told  them  that  the 


lOfi  SAX   AXTOXIO   Dlv  BKXAR. 

spirits  of  the  boiled  Indians  were  nnder  his  control  and  told  him  everything.  He 
set  their  skeletons  up  in  his  summer  house  and  defied  any  one  to  steal  from  him  ; 
it  is  needless  to  say  his  property  was  not  further  molested.  The  Doctor  was 
drowned  in  1S4".  or  1S44  in  attempting  to  swim  Peach  Creek  near  Gonzales, 
during  a  rise." 

Mrs.  Maverick  gives  a  graphic  account  of  the  flight  from  San  Antonio  in  1842 
on  the  approach  of  Vasquez.  She  mentions  the  burying  of  valuables,  the  di.sposing 
of  doubloons  in  bustles  manufactured  for  the  occasion,  the  turning  over  of  furniture 
to  Mexican  friends  and  other  incidents  of  what  is  known  as  the  "  Runaway  of  '42." 
Mr.  Maverick  and  many  gentlemen  escorted  the  ladies  as  far  as  the  Capote  Farm, 
the  Erskine  place,  on  the  Guadalupe.  "On  the  way  from  Capote  Farm  to 
Gonzales  we  passed  King's  rancho,  which  had  just  been  deserted  by  the  owners. 
Here  was  desolation  amidst  plenty.  The  corn-crib  was  full,  the  smoke-house 
well  supplied,  and  chickens  and  hogs  were  running  around  as  usual.  On  the 
front  door  was  pasted  the  following  notice  :  '  To  all  refugees,  welcome;  help  your- 
selves to  what  you  need.  Also  to  all  marching  to  repel  the  invaders,  take  what  you 
want  but  leave  the  remainder  to  the  next  comers.'  Haj's  reoccupied  San  Antonio, 
but  the  fugitives  continued  their  flight  first  to  Gonzales  and  afterwards  to  I,a  Grange. 
Mr.  Ma\'erick  made  a  trip  to  Alabama  and  returning  to  San  Antonio  to  the  fall 
term  of  Court,  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  raid  by  Woll  after  a  gallant  Init  ineffectual 
resistance  to  a  complete  surprise." 

San  Antonio  was  again  reoccupied  by  the  Texans  after  the  battle  of  the  Salado, 
but  too  late  to  rescue  the  prisoners,  largel}-  on  account  of  the  jealousy  of  the 
commanding  oflftcers  of  the  Texan  forces,  Moore,  Morehead  and  Caldwell. 
Caldwell  was  the  hero  of  the  Salado,  but  Moore  was  the  ranking  officer.  Each 
division  wanted  its  own  commander  to  lead,  leaving  Hays,  who  had  already 
captured  the  Mexican  Artillery,  to  maintain  himself  unsupported.  The  troops 
returned  disgusted,  in  small  squads,  to  San  Antonio,  Woll  getting  off  in  safety, 
his  prisoners  being  already  far  on  their  way.  Mr.  Maverick  was  liberated  in  the 
City  of  Mexico  on  March  30th,  lS4o,  through  the  good  offices  of  General  Waddy 
Thompson,  a  connection  of  his,  and  then  United  States  Minister  to  Mexico.  The 
remainder  of  the  prisoners  were  not  released  by  Santa  Anna  until  June  Kith  of 
the  same  year.  Mr.  Maverick  started  for  home  on  April  2d,  and  on  "  May  4th  he 
dismounted  at  cur  cabin  on  the  Colorado."  The  family  afterward  removed  to 
Decrow's  Point,  on  Matagorda  bay,  remaining  until  October  l-")th,  1847.  They 
found  the  town  on  their  return  much  changed  since '42,  "emigrants  arriving 
daily."  .  .  .  "We  moved  directh-  to  our  old  home,  the  fence  was  nearly 
gone  and  everything  dilapidated."  In  July,  18.")0,  what  is  known  as  the 
Maverick  Homestead,  was  begun  on  the  corner  of  Alamo  Plaza  and  Houston 
street,  although  that  street  then  had  no  existence,  and  years  after  its  opening, 
was  known  as  Pa.seo. 

Tliis  date  brings  our  quotations  to  an  appropriate  end.  but  wc  close  the  MS., 
this  mirror  of  by-gone  days,  with  regret.  Our  extracts  have  been  limited  to 
matters  of  general  interest,  and  we  commend  them  to  the  reader  who  lives  in 
calmer  times,  and  who  would  learn  somewhat  of  the  struggles  to  which  he  owes 
his  present  comfort,  with  the  admonition  to  profit  by  them,  not  only  by  informing 
him.self  of  the  facts  of  history,  but  also  by  observing  some  of  the  spirit  of  that 
society  which  has  created  his  own. 


ix'ri-:R\'ii"Av  WITH  mrs.  cAXTi'.RiirRv.  io7 

Interview  with  Mrs.  Canterbury. 

"The  Republic  of  Texas!"  Nowadays  when  "Tlie  .State  of  Texas"  is  so  con - 
staiitlv  in  our  ears  we  are  apt  to  "disrenieniber"  that  our  wide;  Ijroad,  <;iant  Texas 
was  a  star  "aj^art",  "lone,"  by  itself  and  not  of  the  great  and  glorious  constellation. 
Every  year  makes  the  fact  of  the  Republic  less  familiar,  less  palpal^le  to  us. 
Every  year  thins  the  ranks  of  that  remnant  which  can  claim  that  they  were  citizens 
of  the  Republic  of  Texas.  Soon  this  will  be  a  coveted  family  tradition.  To-day 
real  old  timers  are  accorded  a  certain  respect,  not  more  indeed  than  is  their  due. 
One  cannot  help  being  reminded  of  that  exquisite  touch  of  Canon  Kingsley  in 
his  famous  "Westward  Ho"  by  which  he  illustrates  the  deference— almost  filial — 
of  a  younger  generation  to  the  old  pioneer  "Pelicans"  who  had  sailed  the  world 
about  with  their  revered  and  worshipful  Master  Drake.  What  had  not  the 
"Pelicans"  not  enduied?  Eire,  battle,  murder,  sudden  death,  torture,  all  this  and 
more,  was  the  portion  of  these  "wilder  comrades  sworn  to  seek."  What  was 
there  then  for  the  sons  of  such  fathers  to  do,  but  to  emidate  as  far  as  easier  times 
would  allow^  so  high  an  example?  Now  and  then  in  those  annals — mention  is 
made  of  noble  w^omen  who  dared  to  share  these  perils  and  hardships.  And  in 
the  annals  of  Texas — of  the  Texas  Republic — that  sort  of  woman  was  not  so  very 
rare.  Scientists  have  adopted  an  "irresistible  impulse  theory"  with  regard  to 
the  tendency  of  people  and  races  to  travel — to  pioneer — ever  Westward,  the  course 
of  the  sun.     Not  an  altogether  new  theory  if  one  may  credit  the  verse  maker. 

H  K 

■■The  sun  goes  West, 

Why  .should  not  I? 
I  still  deem  best 

That  old  time  cry 
Of 'Westward  Hoi' 

My  love  don't  yon  think  so?" 

SHE 

"My  sun  goes  West 

Why  should  not  I?' 

It  was  such  impulses  that  built  the  best  of  the  Texas  of  the  hew  regime.  It 
required  no  weak  impulses  to  dare  the  dangers  of  those  early  days — war — 
Indians — and  an  almost  untried  future  were  no  inconsiderable  trifles.  There  is 
something  "deeper  than  the  lips"  in  such  a. simple  communication  as  "I  came  to 
Texas  a  l^ri'de  in  1S41." 

"On  May  22d  1S41,"  said  Mrs.  Canterbury;  "I  came  to  San  Antonio,  a 
bride,  with  my  husband  Wilson  Irvine  Riddle.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
American  merchants  on  Main  street.  I  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  my  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Menefee.  There  was  a  Menefee,  one  of  the  .signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  of  Texas,  of  our  family  I  believe.  I  was  married  however 
in  Tennes.see.  Colonel  Hays,  the  noted  Indian  fighter  was  a  connection  of  mine 
by  marriage,  he  married  my  first  cousin— a  Miss  Calvert  of  Seguin.  My  husband's 
store  was  that  little  ([uaiiit  two-storied  building  that  still  stands  next  to 
Sullivan's  shoe  store,  now  one  door  east  of  the  corner  of  St.  Mary's  and 
Commerce  streets.  At  that  date  it  was  one  of  the  most  important  buildings 
on  Main  or  Commerce  street,  and  altogether  considered  to  be  the  fine.st 
house    in     the    town.      It     was    some    years    subsenuently     rented     In-    General 


108  SAN   AXTOXIO   DIv  BI-XAR. 

Harney  for  S()0  pernionth,  as  his  residence  and  for  a  while  mihtary  headquarters, 
and  still  later  Major  Belger  made  use  of  it  as  a  Quartermaster's  Depot.  It 
was  here  that  my  daughter  Mrs.  Eagar,  was  born,  as  also  my  son  James  Wilson 
Riddle,  a  merchant  of  Eagle  Pass,  Texas.  Mrs.  Eagar  was  a  child  only  ten  days 
old  when  the  Mexicans  came  on  March  7th  1842,  I  was  the  last  American 
lady  to  leave  the  city.  T  went  to  Gonzales  and  remained  there  from  March  to 
October  1S42.  In  my  flight  I  stayed  at  Don  Manuel  Flores  ranch,  a  stopping  place 
between  San  Antonio  and  Seguin.  Mrs.  Maverick  went  afterwards  to  Decrow's 
Point  on  the  coast  and  stayed  there  about  five  years.  It  was  a  terribly  anxious 
time  for  the  women.  After  all,  these  Mexicans  under  Vasquez,  were  little  more 
than  a  band  of  marauders.  And  when  in  September  of  the  same  year,  WoU  was 
reported  as  advancing  upon  San  Antonio  with  a  large  force,  many  of  the  citizens 
determined  if  possible  to  make  some  kind  of  defence,  but  so  strong  a  force  was 
very  much  of  a  surprise,  and  many  of  the  citizens  were  made  prisoners,  even  as  the 
District  Court  was  sitting.  It  was  a  much  more  serious  affair  than  the  investment 
of  the  city  under  Vasquez  in  the  spring.  Our  store  was  robbed  of  all  our  goods — 
and  a  claim  against  Mexico  for  the  damage  done  us,  is  still  unsettled.  The  claim 
was  made  through  the  British  government,  for  my  husband  was  a  British  subject, 
but  in  the  midst  of  the  many  important  events  that  quickly  followed  each  other  at 
that  epoch,  the  claim  although  acknowledged  to  be  a  just  one  was  neglected. 
When  it  will  be  settled  I  know  not.  Fifty-three  good  citizens  were  taken  and 
put  in  chains  by  Woll,  and  marched  all  the  weary  way  to  the  City  of  Mexico.  I 
knew  most  of  them  well.  My  husband  was  chained  to  Wm.  E.  Jones.  His 
brother  to  John  Twohig,  the  banker— at  the  time  John  Twohig  had  a  general  store 
at  the  corner  of  Main  Plaza  and  Main  street,  where  Deutsch's  store  is.  He  coolly 
blew  up  his  store— declaring  that  no  man  should  rob  him  of  his  goods.  Sam 
A.  Maverick  had  for  a  companion  Major  Colquhoun,  I  believe— then  there  were 
John  Bradley  the  father  of  Mrs.  Waelder,  James  Truehart,  Judge  Hutcheson,  Dr. 
Hatch,  Dr.  Booker,  Dr.  Mackay,  Duncan  B.  Ogden  and  many  others.  I  have  a 
list  but  don't  know  just  whereto  find  it  now  Many  men  were  killed  a  few  days 
after  in  the  fight  on  the  Salado.  It  was  a  dreadful  time.  I  also  knew  many  of 
the  Mier  prisoners — that  was  a  sad  bit  of  history — you  have  heard  all  about  that 
I  expect. 

Soon  after  I  came,  my  husband  gave  me  a  piano — it  was  about  the  first  in 
Texas.  I  was  the  only  player  in  San  Antonio  then— I  still  play  a  little.  I  had 
that  piano  until  a  few  months  ago,  when  I  sold  it  for  Sl(>;  I  am  sorry  now  that  I 
.sold  it.  I  still  have  my  old  music  stool.  When  the  Mexicans  came  I  had  my 
piano  hastily  boxed,  and  on  my  return,  that,  my  music  stool  and  a  rocker  were 
almost  my  only  household  possessions.  Many  of  the  prominent  Mexican  families 
were  at  first  wealthy  and  well-to-do,  but  they  had  to  live,  and  they  were  not  mer- 
chants, and  extensive  farming  was  out  of  the  question  on  account  of  the  great 
danger  of  Indian  raids — they  did  not  dare  trust  themselves  for  long,  out  of  town, 
.so  their  great  estates  dwindled,  and  passed  into  the  hands  of  others.  I  have  seen 
many  and  vast  changes  in  San  Antonio." 

Many  other  interesting  matters  were  discussed  by  Mrs.  Canterbury,  and  per- 
sonal recollections  were  given  of  events,  the  history  of  whicli  will  be  knrnt  in 
school  bv  the  children  of  Texas  for  nian>-  future  generations. 


rNTl':R\-II«:\V   WITH    WW    RI'A'.    P.ISIloi'   Xl'.RAZ.  1<)'.» 

A  Talk  with  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Neraz 

About  the  Old  Records  of  the   Church    and    the    Missions. 

I  shall  not  soon  forget  my  interview  with  Bishop  Xeraz.  The  meeting  at 
which  much  of  the  information  herein  written  was  oV)tained  was  one  which  im- 
pressed me  mucli.      It  was  an   appointment. 

The  morniiii;"  was  a  lovely  one  in  June,  warm  outside  but  cool  and  airy  in  the 
high  rooms  of  the  plain  hut  comfortable  house  on  Dwyer  Avenue.  Would  I 
please  come  up  stairs,  the  Bi.shop  was  somewhat  lame  by  rea.son  of  advancing 
years,  and  found  it  difficult  to  move  al)0ut  ?  I  found  him  busy  in  his  rooms  but 
he  put  aside  his  work  upon  my  entrance  and  bid  me  draw  a  chair  towards  his  desk. 
He  received  me  witli  a  direct  kindliness  of  manner  at  which  had  there  been  any 
restraint  it  must  have  vanished  at  once.  A  mixture  of  quiet  dignity  and  simplic- 
ity one  does  not  wonder  in  his  presence  that  he  is  Catholic  Bishop  of  San  Antonio. 

Said  the  good  Bishop  "I  have  brought  here  the  records  that  you  wished  to 
see,  some  of  the  old  archives  of  our  Church  and  the  Missions,  we  will  look  them 
over  together — there  they  are,"  said  he,  i)ointing  to  his  bookshelf — 'AVill  you 
please  bring  them  to  the  desk  here?"  Taking  up  the  top  volume  I  found  the 
leaves  of  the  second  one  to  be  loose,  and  1)efore  I  could  secure  them  a  gust  of  the 
breeze  through  the  open  windows  had  scattered  them  over  the  floor.  The  Bi.shop 
in  spite  of  my  remonstrance  hastened  to  help  me  to  gather  them  up  and  laughingly 
remarked  "  We  mu.st  take  great  care  of  these,  the  wind  is  fresh  this  morning," 
and  then  we  sat  down  to  talk  and  write.  I  had  written  to  the  liishop  some  few 
days  previously,  enclosing  at  his  desire,  a  string  of  questions,  so  he  knew  just 
about  what  I  wanted.  "  Your  letter  came  to  me,"  he  said,  "and  I  know  what 
you  require.  I  wish  that  you  had  come  to  me  .some  years  ago,  for  my  memory  is 
not  so  good  as  it  used  to  be  for  the.se  things.  I  u.sed  to  have  charge  of  the 
records  and  formerly  nmde  it  my  business  to  know  all  abount  them,  but  I  will  tell 
you  what  I  remember.  It  is  very  much  to  be  regretted  that  many  of  our  church 
records  were  destroyed  by  the  fire  in  the  Priest  House  on  March  2ord,  iS(il). 
Many  of  the  older  records  were  removed  to  Zacatecas  by  the  Mexican  military 
authorities  in  1824.  I  do  not  know  why  they  took  them  from  here  nor  if  they  are 
still  in  exi.stenceat  Zacatecas  or  elsewhere,  but  it  is  a  fact  that  many  were  taken 
there.  The  volumes  that  I  have  here  are  very  old  and  about  the  most  interesting 
that  we  now  pos.se.ss,  they  are  of  various  matters  concerning  the  church."  The 
])ooks  were  in  manuscript  and  bound  in  thick  brown  rudely  tanned  leather  or  hide, 
worn  smooth  by  much  use  and  stitched  here  and  there  with  laces  of  hide,  most  oi 
them  were  (juarto  shai)e,  eight  l)y  ten  inches  or  thereabout,  varying  a  little.  The 
character  of  the  writing  was  mostly  good,  some  of  it,  however,  was  difficult  to 
decipher,  many  of  the  "  ss  "  were  made  in  the  old  fashioned  way  like  "11"  and 
this  made  some  of  the  Indian  names  at  first  sight  a  little  doubtful,  for  instance. 
Tilo.sa  read  like  Tilofa  ;  Pasala,  like  Pafala  and  there  were  other  peculiarities  of  the 
times  and  style  in  which  they  were  written.  The  Bishop  made  many  running 
translations  from  the  Spanish  which  I  did  my  best  to  follow. 

"  Here  is  an  old  book,"  continued  the  Bislioj),  "  It  is  the  Record  of  Marriages 
of  Mis.sion  Concepcion,  I    think   it  will   interest  you.     There  is  the  original  record 


11(1  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

you  see  'Mission  Concepcion.  Pueblo  de  Acuiia,  founded  March  5th,  ITol,  on  the 
border  of  the  River  of  San  Antonio.'  Here  follow  'Marriages  of  the  same 
Mission  17-')3  to  1700,'  let  us  make  excerpts  of  the  different  Indian  nations  men- 
tioned in  this  record  of  marriages.  The  first  marriage  is  Joseph  Flores  of  the 
nation  Patumaco  with  Efiegenia  of  the  nation  Pasalat.  The  second  is  Juachin 
Antonio,  of  the  nation  Patumaco.  with  Brigida  of  the  nation  Pachalque.  The 
third  is  Christoval,  of  Nacion  Grande  de  Patalca,  with  Beatriz,  of  the  nation 
Tilosa,  and  so  on,  in  17;)(>  there  appear  to  have  been  no  marriages.  Other 
nations  recorded  here  are  Narame,  Siquipil,  Tilpocopal,  Pusan,  Pasalat,  Pamache, 
Chayopina  and  the  eighty-first  marriage  is  that  of  Berndino  Chaygoya  of  the 
nation  Patumaco,  with  Antonia  of  the  nation  Apache.  "' 

"Here  is  a  "Book  in  which  are  entered  the  Baptismal  Records  wiiich  were 
made  of  the  children  of  the  Second  Company  of  Volunteers  de  San  Carlos  de 
Parras  which  stayed  (or  remained)  in  the  Alamo.  The  Chaplain  of  it  being  Brn. 
Don  Manuel  Saenz  de  Juan  Corena,  and  it  begins  on  March  1st,  1788.'  The  book 
is  apparently  opened  however  on  February  6th  1788.  The  Alamo  is  also  herein 
mentioned  as  'The  Pueblo  of  San  Jose, '  a  style  it  bore  at  one  short  period  of  the 
Mission's  History;  this  book  runs  on  till  after  1806  when  there  is  a  note  to  the 
effect  that  the  Chaplain  Jose  Bravo  having  died  then,  one  Clemente  de  Arocha 
took  the  place  of  him.  It  is  in  the  beginning  of  this  book  that  we  find  the  memo- 
randum that  'On  May  Nth,  1744  the  first  (or  corner  stone)  of  the  new  Church 
of  San  Antonio  (de  Valero)  was  blessed,  being  at  the  time  Clergymen  of  the 
Mission,  Diego  Martin  Garcia,  Mariano  Francisco  de  los  Dolores  and  Friar  Juan 
de  los  Angeles.  In  proof  of  which  I  sign  my  name  in  the  Mission  of  San  Antonio 
September  29th,  1745' — here  follow  the  three  signatures — this  however  is  appar- 
ently a  copy  of  an  original  entry,  made  at  the  date  of  the  opening  of  this  book, 

"The  next  volume  is  a  book  of  Episcopal  orders,  the  first  signed  August  (ith 
1761  concerning  various  matters  of  Church  Government,  these  orders  were 
brought  by  courier  in  advance  of  the  visitation  of  the  Bishop,  we  shall  see  men- 
tion of  this  later.  The  first  lengthy  order  in  this  book  refers  to  previous  general 
orders  from  Rome  dated  1681.  this  is  in  October  1761.  Very  likely  if  we  went 
through  all  this  we  should  find  many  interesting  references  to  doings  of  the  times. 
"This  book,"  said  the  Bishop,  taking  up  another,  "is  of  similar  intention  to  the 
last,  it  is  the  record  of  'The  Bishop  of  the  2nd  Mitre,  begining  1795' — it  is  .styled 
Book  2.  Number  1  was  probably  lost  in  the  fire.  It  contains  copies  of  'Letters 
Pastoral  and  orders  which  belong  to  the  town  of  San  Fernando,  Royal  Province 
of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,'  they  seem  to  have  been  sent  in  advance  of  the  Bishop 
of  New  Leon  (Nueva  Leone)  by  courier  and  in  order  that  there  shall  be  no  miscar- 
riage of  the  document,  note  that  the  instructions  to  the  recipients  are  'and  you  will 
hold  this  until  the  Bishop  makes  his  visitation,  when  it  is  to  be  signed  by  him." 
afterwards  it  is  .sent  to  the  next  church  and  so  on  and  here  is  a  list  of  the  pari.shes 
to  which  this  letter  was  .sent :  Cordillera,  (Hills),  Cerrio,  Santiago,  San  Cantez(?) 
San  Nicholas,  Croizer(?)  Cruallay,  Burgos.  San  Fernando, ''=  Reynosa,  Camargo, 
Mier.  Bahia,  Bexar,  Nacogdoches.  (Some  names  are  difiicult  to  decipher)  "and 
see  the  careful  way,"  said  the    Bishop,  turning   to  the    end    of   the    volume,  "in 

"I'robaMy  Ihv  Siiii  I'l Diaiulo  :i  Mc.\ic:iii  hoidtv  town,  i.  i.  Ki<>  C.vaiKU-  1>orikr.  « 


IXTI'RX-II'.W   WITH    RT.    RICW    I'.ISIIOI'   XlCRAZ.  Ill 

which  any  interpolatioiisor  additions  to  the  letters  were  avoided  or  made  iniposible, 
'This  ])ook  has  7^-2  pages  used  but  there  could  be  used  757,'  and  here  are  the  five 
l)lank  pages  at  the  end." 

''The  next  book  we  come  to  is  a  book  of  the  Baptisms,  etc.,  of  the  Mission 
of  San  Jose — th3  Second  Mission  as  we  call  it — here  is  a  memorandum  of  its 
contents  : 

]5aptisms   of  the  Mission  of  vSan  Jose  1777  to  ]<S2-'!,  and  one  of  1S24. 

Marriages  "     "          "        "       "     "     177Sto  1S24. 

Burials       ':      "  "        "       "     "      17S1  to  1S24. 

This  same  book  also  contains  the  same  records  for  San  Juan  and  San  Francisco  de 
la  Espada  Missions  from  isjs  to  1S2I  which  is  evidence  perhaps  that  the 
Missions  were  already  becoming  of  less  importance. 

"This  last  is  a  ']^)Ook  of  the  Government  (or  Administration)  and  \'isitation 
of  the  Foreign  Vicar  of  the  Province  of  Texas,  being  Don  Juan  Nepomuceno  de 
la  Peiia.  Anode  182o.'  It  opens  with  a  circular  letter  sent  bj-  courier,  dated 
December,  1S24,  entitled  'Orders  of  the  Church  concerning  Civil  and  Kclesiastical 
administration  together,'  and  signed  Sor.  Col.  Cont.  Citizen  Estevan  de  Ostin. 
It  also  contains  the  orders  of  the  Bishop  to  the  Priest. 

"We  have  other  Records  but  this  is  a  representative  lot  and  perhaps  these 
are  as  interesting  as  any. 

'T  am  not  sure  whether  Don  Juan  Nepomuceno  de  la  Pena,  the  Foreign 
\'icar  (\'icario  foraneo)  of  1825  was  the  last  President  of  the  Missions,  or  more 
likel}'  perhaps  Francisco  Maynes  who  was  named  P'oreign  Vicar  by  Sefior  Dn.  1). 
Leon  Lobo  Guerrero,  \'icar  Capitular  and  administrator  of  the  Diocese  of  Mon- 
terey, on  September  3()th  1S2").  Ah — I  remember — certainly  P\  Maynes  for  he 
was  the  Reverend  President  at  the  time  when  the  Superior  of  the  Franciscans 
came  and  pa.ssed,  or  delivered  to  the  Bishop  of  Monterey  all  the  Missions  and  their 
lands.  Most  of  the  lands  of  the  Missions  had  been  divided  among  the  Indians  be- 
longing to  each,  with  the  exception  of,  it  appears,  fifteen  acres  which  the  Mexican 
Government  attached  to  and  granted  to  each  Mission.  The  lands  were  I  believe 
given  or  distributed  to  the  Indians  by  suertes  or  lots.  Bishop  Odin  bought  back 
some  of  the  suertes  and  the  taxes  of  this  land  have  been  paid  by  tlie  Church  ever 
since.  The  Church  has  been  in  possession  of  the  Mission  properties  since  1824  or 
January  lS2o.  Some  of  the.se  facts  may  be  seen  in  the  deeds  to  Bi.shop  Odin. 
The  state  never  excluded  the  rights  of  the  occupants  as  has  been  averred,  on  the 
contrary,  it  recognized  their  rights  as  is  proved  by  the  result  of  the  law  suits 
gained  by  Bishop  Odin  in  185(5.  Mr.  Altgelt  knows  a  good  deal  about  the.se 
matters.  He  has  in  his  possession  a  book  which  gives  the  history  and  laws  re- 
garding the.se  lands  and  transactions. 

"Who  was  San  Antonio?  He  was  St.  Anthony  of  Padua,  he  was  born  in 
the  year  1195  and  entered  the  Franciscan  Order  in  1221,  he  died  June  I'Uh  12.')1 ." 


11-2  SAN  ANTONIO  DK  BEXAR. 

Interviews  with  Dr.  Cupples— 1890. 

To  Dr.  Cupples  thanks  are  due  for  many  valuable  hints  and  suggestions  to 
the  compilation  of  this  work.  Was  the  editor  at  a  loss  to  trace  the  date  of  any 
particular  happening  of  the  earlier  days  after  the  Texan  Declaration  of 
Independence,  if  Dr.  Cupples  could  not  give  it  out  of  his  excellent  memory,  in 
talking  over  the  event,  some  old  and  apparently  insignificant  recollection  would  be 
incidentally  dropped  that  would  be  sure  to  lead  to  the  elucidation  of  the  point  in 
question.  It  is  interesting  to  note  how  closely  linked  in  one's  memories  are 
stirring  and  momentous  actions  with  the  commonplaces  of  every  day  life.  Once 
was  discovered  the  name  of  a  man  who  had  done  some  action  worthy  to  be 
forgotten,  but  which  was  not  inconsequent  to  a  more  important  event,  by  the 
Doctor  remembering  that  he  had  cured  the  man's  brother  of  an  extraordinary 
gall  stone.  It  is  the  evidence  and  aid  of  such  witnesses  as  Dr.  Cupples  that  the 
historian  even  of  modest  pretensions  knows  how  to  value.  Documentary  evidence 
is  one  thing  in  its  strength  and  firmness,  but  that  of  the  contemporary  or  eye 
witness  is  another.  A  dear,  musty-smelling,  frayed,  don't-touch-me-or-I-shall 
fall-to -pieces  kind  of  document,  written  all  over  with  the  rigmarole  of  other  days 
in  quaint  old-fashioned  characters  and  signatures  of  familiar  sounding  names  and 
lots  of  dates,  is  indeed  a  treasure  and  invaluable  in  the  eyes  of  a  searcher.  But 
for  that  keen  interest  and  enjoyment  which  is  peculiar  to  triflers  with  the  past, 
there  is  nothing  to  compare  with  the  excitement  of  hearing  that  of  a  truth,  .'^uch  a 
man  looked  thus  and  another  did  that  in  this  manner  at  such  a  moment,  when 
each  actor's  senses  were  strained  and  quivering,  and  the  listener  feels  that  the 
emotions  of  men  and  facts  in  some  momentous  doings  of  the  past  are  being  recalled 
with  a  vividness  that  no  second  hand  or  written  evidence  could  array. 

Dr.  Cupples  has  seen,  experienced  and  endured  much  in  a  long,  active  and 
useful  life,  and  to  his  taste  for  action  he  has  brought  the  relish  of  a  learned  and 
enlightened  observation.  The  editor  here  wishes  to  acknowledge  the  value  to 
him  of  many  comments  by  Dr.  Cupples,  upon  notes  of  his  prior  to  their  final 
preparation  for  the  press. 

"  I  note,"  .said  the  Doctor,  "  the  curious  discrepancy  and  anachronism  in  the 
fac  simile  drawings  of  those  seals.  You  see  this  Royal  seal  dated  \S2'\,  sometime 
after  the  .secession  of  Mexico,  is  on  the  same  document  with  a  Mexican  Govern- 
ment seal  of  even  an  earlier  date.  My  explanation  would  be  that  in  the  desire  to 
have  the  document  legal  at  all  hazards,  it  was  thought  best  in  that  unsettled 
period  to  make  sure  of  having  the  right  .seal  by  using  both.  I  don't  know 
that  it  was  so,  but  it  looks  as  if  it  were,  docs  it  not  ? 

"  I  think  you  should  note  that  the  original  settlement  of  the  Canary  Lslanders 
was  not  around  the  Military  and  Main  Plazas,  as  is  commonly  supposed  ;  that 
was  an  after  move.  The  finst  .settlement  was  at  the  San  Pedro  Springs,  between 
the  crossuig  on  North  Flores  street  and  the  head  springs.  They  sul)sequently 
removed  to  the  location  of  those  Plazas,  concluding  tluU  it  could  be  more  easily 
defended  against  the  incursions  of  hostile  tribes  than  the  settlements  at  the 
Springs.  The  Head  of  tlie  San  Pedro  had  alwavs  been  a  favorite  watering  place 
of  the  Apaches  and  other  liostiles  of  the  hills  to  the  north  and  northwest. 


ixti-:r\'ii-:\v  wittt  dr.  crrrU'S.  ii;'. 

'  Yes.  I  remember  many  of  the  old  erections  aronnd  the  enclosure  of  the 
Ph\za  de  Armas  (Military  Plaza).  I  knew  the  man  Goodman,  you  speak  of;  I 
remember  him  well,  and  the  years  of  trouble  he  gave  the  city  before  he  was  finally 
ousted  from  the  property  on  the  Plaza,  just  opposite  where  Kalteyer's  drug  store 
is  now  was  the  location  of  the  property  he  claimed.  I  remember  he  once  came 
near  to  killing  Ed.  Dwyer  over  that  and  other  matters,  that  was  the  late  Mr. 
Dwyer's  father,  the  present  boys'  grandfather.  You  say  Juan  Seguin*  is  still  alive 
at  Laredo — well.  I  shouldn't  wonder  ;  he  wouldn't  be  so  very  old.  I  knew  his 
father  very  well,  Senor  Erasmo  Seguin,  a  perfect  and  courtly  old  Spanish 
gentleman.  Juan  Seguin  was  Gefe  Politico  here  in  1835  or  'o(),  I  believe.  Grad- 
ually, and  piece  by  piece,  the  city  actiuired  the  properties  that  private  citizens 
claimed  on  the  Plazas,  and  finall}  the  whole  space  was  cleared.  The  Bat  Cave  is 
a  remnant  of  these  old  properties  aiul  the  store  owned  by  the  Russis  and  rented 
by  Dullnig.  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Military  Plaza,  was  the  last  of  all  the  en- 
closing buildings  to  disappear,  in  isss.  The  Plaza  de  las  Yslas  or  Main  Plaza, 
was  similarly  afflicted,  but  the  city  became  possessed  of  all  the  Plaza,  finally. 
The  Callaghan  and  Groesbeeck  properties  were  the  last  to  be  improved  off  this 
Plaza. 

"That  portion  of  the  city  around  Market  street  from  Main  Plaza,  was  in  ante- 
Independence  days  about  out  of  the  thickly  settled  limits.  It  was  called  the 
Potrero,  or  the  place  for  horses,  because  that  was  where  all  the  horses  of  those 
who  came  to  town  were  put  for  the  night.  Later,  Manuel  Yturri,  probably  the 
grandfather  of  the  present  M.  Yturri,  (the  Yturris'  are  a  family  from  the  Basque 
Provinces,  I  believe)  built  a  house  on  Market  street,  and— let  me  see— McGloin 
lived  there,  too,  the  Empresario  who  settled  up  the  San  Patricio  country.  On  the 
west  side  of  the  Plaza  de  Armas  in  Spanish  and  Mexican  times,  the  entries  used 
to  be  closed  at  nightfall  by  rawhides  hung  on  chains  tightly  stretched  across  the 
narrow  roads.  Behind  these  the  settlers  in  the  Plaza  enclosure  were  safe  from  sur- 
prises by  Indians  and  their  arrows.     The  rawhide  was  arrow-proof. 

"And  the  'Plaza  Hou.se"  was  a  prominent  institution  in  its  days.  This 
hostelry  u.sed  to  stand  just  about  where  the  White  P:iephant  was  and  Wolfson's. 
It  was  the  starting  place  of  the  stages  to  Seguin,  Port  Lavaca,  Victoria  and  a 
number  of  other  places.  It  belonged  to  the  late  Mr.  IHlly  I^liott's  father,  the 
present  boy's  grandfather.  It  was  a  two-story  building.  It  was  there  that  old 
Winchell  tried  hard  to  break  his  neck  by  falling  from  the  upper  gallery.  Then 
Alsbury  had  the  house.  I  forget  who  was  the  last  holder  of  the  old  place.  The 
Padre  Garza  House  was  another  old  landmark  of  which  I  have  a  lively  recollection. 
"  I  came  here  on  April  27th,  ISU,  with  Castro's  Colony.  Dr.  Herfi"says  he 
finally  settled  in  San  Antonio  in  IS.IO.  I  think  the  Doctor  is  mistaken  in  the 
year  ;  it  must  have  been  in  1849.  I  am  pretty  sure  about  that.  Yes,  I  was  in 
the  First  Carlist  War.  I  was  StafF  Assistant  Surgeon  to  the  British  Legion  in 
Spain  in  iS-'Hi.  Afterwards  I  went  to  Paris,  where  I  met  Castro  and  came  here- 
Without  knowing  it  I  located  the  present  townsite  of  Castroville,  and  I  cut  the 
first  brush  there  for  the  first  clearing.  On  account  of  the  troubles  with  Mexico 
and   the   hostile   Indians,  it   was   found   impracticable   to  locate  on  the  Colony's 

*Since  this  was  written  Juan  Seguin  ha.s  died  at  New  I.aiedo.     U  is  alleged  that  he  was  Qver  •.«)  years  of  age 


114  SAN  ANTONIO  DH  BKXAR. 

chosen  lands,  so  Castro  bought  a  league  of  land,  paying  the  sum  of  $2000  for  it, 
which  he  gave  to  the  colonists  ;  l)ut  there  were  suits  brought  for  the  land, — 
disputed  title, — and  finally  the  colonists  had  to  pay  for  their  lots  at  Castroville 
twice  over  to  two  different  claimants,  to  Illis  and  to  another.  Mrs.  Cupples,  my 
wife,  was  a  Miss  Jaques.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jaques,  her  parents,  were  very  old-timers 
in  Texas.  They  were  intimate  with  Stephen  F.  Austin  and  many  others  of  the 
earlier  settlers.  My  wife  still  possesses  a  watch  which  Austin  gave  Mr.  Jaques  as  a 
memento  of  his  gratitude  for  aid  rendered  him  in  his  escape  from  Mexico  in  1835. 
Mr.  Jaques'  house  was  burned  by  Vasquez  in  1842.  and  again  when  Woll  invested 
the  city  he  was  placed  under  guard  and  would  undoubtedly  have  been  shot  but  for 
the  intervention  of  Colonel  Carasco,  of  General  Woll's  staff,  who  pleaded  for  his 
life.     Colonel  Carasco  was  friendly  to  Mr.  Jaques  because  of  some  favor  rendered. 

"You  spoke  of  the  Recapitulation  of  the  Indies,"  continued  Dr.  Cupples. 
"  Perhaps  I  can  tell  you  something  about  that.  It  was  a  kind  of  code  and  record 
of  the  Council  of  the  Indies.  This  Council  had  its  seat  in  Seville,  I  believe,  and 
its  members  were  appointed  by  the  Crown.  It  had  control  and  direction  of  Spain's 
Colonies  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  Recognizing  that  water  was  a  chief  necessity 
to  the  existence,  not  to  say  success,  of  a  Colony,  they  devised  exhaustive 
regulations  and  laws  concerning  the  preservation  of  water  rights,  the  construction 
of  works  of  irrigation  and  the  control  of  such  water  always  to  the  best  public 
advantage  and  the  division  of  Suertes  of  the  Regadios  to  Regadors.  The  lot  on 
which  this  house  stands"  (the  Doctor's  residence  on  Soledad  street)  "is  entitled 
to  so  many  hours  of  water  daily  from  the  San  Pedro  Acequia.  It  was  formerly 
considered  to  be  an  inalienable  right  of  the  property  holder.  How  the  city  over- 
ruled the  privilege  I  cannot  explain.  The  importance  of  land  was  formerly  reck- 
oned by  the  hours  of  water  to  which  it  was  entitled.  One  of  the  rules  in  the  Re- 
capitulation was  that  navigable  streams  should  have  reserved  for  public  needs,  on 
either  bank,  a  strip  of  land  twelve  varas  wide.  The  San  Antonio  River  was  con- 
sidered to  be  in  their  sense  a  navigable  stream,  and  the  rule  undoubtedly  applied 
to  our  River.  Giraud  was  right  as  to  this,  but  he  lacked  firmness.  He  was  a 
good  man,  and  had  he  sufficiently  insisted,  perhaps  the  city  would  be  able  to-day 
to  boast  of  a  remnant  of  a  splendid  possession.  Giraud  was  one  of  the  few  who 
.saw  the  right  of  the  matter  clearly." 

And  now  what  a  book  might  be  written  from  the  Doctor's  recollection  of 
the  know-nothing  movement  here,  of  the  great  war  and  of  the  famous  Vigilance 

Committee  troubles.      But  as  Mr.  Kipling  would  say— that  is  another  story. 


inti<;r\'iI':\v  with  dr.  i-ivrdixaxd  iii:ri"i-,  sr.  n") 

An  Interview  with  Dr.  Ferdinand  Herff,  Senior, 

May  19th,  1890. 

Dr.  Herff  said,  "I  came  for  the  first  time  to  America  in  IS  Id.  I  was  one 
of  a  Socialistic  Colony  and  Society  founded  by  a  number  of  young  men  of  good 
family  and  position  for  the  purpose  of  emigrating  to  Wisconsin.  Our  Society 
made  some  stir  among  certain  circles,  principally  the  upper  in  Germany. 
A  few  years  previous  to  the  organization  of  our  Society  an  Emigration  Association 
had  been  formed  by  a  company  of  noblemen  in  Germany  under  the  Presidency  of 
Boos-Waldeck.  This  company  had  partly  purchased,  partly  obtained  by 
Empresario  Grants  a  large  tract  of  land  near  San  vSaba.  Prince  Solms  was  the 
next  subsequent  president  of  this  company  and  obtaining  further  land  concessions 
New  Braunfels,  named  after  Prince  Solms'  German  home  or  castle,  was  founded. 
Other  presidents  of  this  company  were  Meusebach  and  Spie?.  This  Association 
having  heard  of  our  Society  and  its  intention  of  emigrating  to  Wisconsin  made 
overtures  to  us  pointing  out  the  advantages  that  Texas  offered  and  asked  us  to 
join  them  and  settle  in  their  territory.  We  agreed  to  do  so  if  they  could  offer  us  a 
sufhcient  number  of  inducements  to  make  us  change  our  minds,  for  while  at  that 
date  Wisconsin  was  well  within  the  pale  of  civilization,  Texas  was  a  wild,  rough  and 
dangerous  region.  We  finally  decided  to  change  our  destination  to  Texas.  I  landed 
in  New  York  in  1S4().  The  railroad  south  only  reached  as  far  as  Wheeling,  \'a., 
from  whence  we  staged  it  to  New  Orleans  and  thence  by  water  to  Galveston  and 
from  Galveston  to  Indianola  which  was  then  the  western  Texas  Port,  we  arrived  at 
the  latter  place  at  the  end  of  April  1847.  I  was  one  of  the  earlier  arrivals  of  the  vSocie- 
ty  to  which  I  belonged,  the  bulk  of  my  associates  came  over  in  August,  1847.  The 
scheme  in  the  end  was  not  a  success  and  in  the  course  of  a  year  or  two  I  returned 
to  Germany  and  was  there  married  and  re-emigrated  on  my  own  account  to  San 
Antonio  with  my  wife,  arriving  at  San  Antonio  early  in  April  IS.')!),  aiid  I  perma- 
nently settled  there.  You  see  I  had  frequently  been  in  this  city,  on  visits,  before 
this  time,  but  w^hen  I  first  came  to  Texas  I  was  settled  some  two  hundred  miles 
from  here.  Many  of  our  old  German  citizens  came  to  Texas  in  those  j'ears.  All 
sorts  of  people  came  under  the  auspices  of  these  and  similar  Societies.  Texas  has 
received  its  population  from  many  sources,  this  was  one  and  an  important  one. 
Any  one  whom  they  could  induce  came.  This  Society  expected  to  reap  a  profit 
of  course.  Principally  by  letting  out  and  selling  at  cheap  rates  alternate  parcels 
and  sections  of  lands  in  their  settlements  and  grants,  but  in  the  end  it  came  to 
little  more  than  nothing  and  the  company  'busted  up'  and  the  colonists  for  the 
most  part  scattered. 

Dr.  Herff  continued  : 

"Another  important  Colony  was  that  of  Castro  which  was  one  mostly  French 
or  rather  Alsatian.  That  was  in  the  days  when  Alsace,  you  know,  belonged  to 
France.  If  I  remember  correctly  Dr.  Cupples  told  me  he  came  to  Texas  with  this 
Colony  in  I  Nil.  I  am  not  ([uite  sure  of  these  following  facts  but  it  is  what  I 
think  I  remember  him  to  have  told  me.  Dr.  Cupples  was  Staff  Assistant  Surgeon 
to  the  British  Auxiliary  Legion  which  went  to  Spain  during  the  first  Carlist  War 
there  in  1836.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Paris — he  speaks  French  fluently — it 
was  there  I  believe  that  he  met  Castro  who  induced  him  to  emigrate  to  Texas. 
Castrovillc  was  founded  b}-  this  Colony  in  1844,  September  8rd. 


116  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

An  Interview  with  Mr.  John  Dobbin— 1890. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  when  such  and  such  an  event  happened  ?  "  Is  a  question 
that  we  have  had  occasion  to  ask  of  many  an  old  timer.  In  the  event  he  were  at  a 
loss  for  the  date  we  could  be  pretty  sure  of  the  answer  to  come.  ' '  Now  let  me  see, 
would  be  the  meditative  reply,  "  I  have  forgotten  for  the  moment  the  date  of  that, 
but,"  and  with  a  smile  of  perfect  satisfaction  that  the  question  was  as  good  as 
answered,  "  I  can  tell  you  who  knows  more  about  that  than  any  other  man  living, 
just  ask  John  Dobbin,  he'll  tell  you  all  about  it."  And  if  we  had  not  very  recently 
teased  Mr.  Dobbin  about  some  other  knotty  question,  to  him  we  should  go  for  our 
information,  alway  finding  him  a  willing  witness  of  the  "golden  days"  and  their 
eventful  hours.  They  were  not  alway  golden,  there  was  in  these  early  days  at 
times  a  good  deal  of  lead.  But  then,  pioneer  days  are  long  gone  by  in  Texas.  If 
some  of  our  romantic  northern  friends  could  only  be  persuaded  of  this,  there 
would  be  less  money  wasted  on  "bulldogs  "  and  "frontiers."  These  ideas  are  a 
relic  of  stormier  times,  times  w^hen  the  Great  West  was  being  opened  up,  and 
when  all  that  vast  territory  was  perhaps  less  quiet  and  law  abiding  than  it  ought 
to  have  been.  Such  episodes  as  the  one  narrated  here  went  out  of  fashion  in 
Texas  earlier  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  wild  west.  It  is  an  event  of  '57,  and 
since  then  it  may  be  fairly  said  that  Western  Texas,  and  without  doubt.  San  Antonio 
has  seen  less  of  lynch  law  than  any  section  of  western  country.  Mr.  Dobbin  tells  us 
so  and  he  has  been  in  the  best  official  positions  to  judge  of  the  matter.  This  event 
was  the  shooting  of  Bill  Hart.  Bill  Hart  was  about  one  of  the  worst  desperadoes 
to  whom  Texas  ever  gave  a  home.  According  to  all  local  tradition,  "  he  was  a 
pretty  bad  man,"— he  was,— but  'de  mortuis'— and  the  rest— we  may  speak  of  the 
good  work  of  the  V.  C. 

"I  had  better  write  it  down,"  said  Mr.  Dobbin,  "  I  shall  recall  the  circum- 
stances more  accurately,"  and  forthwith  the  following  graphic  account  was  penned  : 

"  Bill  Hart  was  killed  on  the  29th  day  of  May,  ISoT,  and  along  with  him  his 
companion  Miller  and  a  government  team.ster  named  Wood.  Fieldstrop  also  was 
killed.  Fieldstrop  was  a  discharged  soldier  and  had  been  employed  by  the  Vigi- 
lance Committee  to  watch  Hart  and  his  party  the  night  previous  and  when  Hart 
and  his  friend  Miller,  passed  on  their  way  dowai  Mission  street,  they  were  fired 
upon  by  Fieldstrop  who  had  a  doubled  barreled  gun.  Miller  was  killed  dead, 
falling  in  the  alley  north  of  the  Brewer  house.  Bill  Hart,  too,  was  mortally 
w'ounded,  his  right  wrist  and  left  thigh  broken,  besides  having  eleven  buckshot 
wounds  in  the  region  of  his  kidney  on  the  left  side,  nevertheless,  such  extraordi- 
nary vitality  he  had  that  he  reached  the  Brewer  house  where  he  took  shelter  from 
his  numerous  enemies  Fieldstrop  having  reloaded  his  gun  in  Supervielle's 
house  (just  behind  where  Wolf  &  Marx's  store  is  now,  on  Alamo  street)  ap- 
proached the  Brewer  house  with  the  intention  of  giving  Hart  the  coup  de  grace, 
when  Wood,  the  government  teamster,  before  mentioned,  came  out  of  the  door 
and  ordered  Fieldstrop  off,  saying  that  Fieldstrop  had  done  enough  harm  already, 
also  that  he.  Wood,  was  Bill's  friend:  "That  is  enough,"  replied  Fieldstrop 
raising  his  gun  and  firing,  killing  Wood  inslanlly.  At  the  same  moment  Hart 
appeared  at  the  other  door  sui)porting  liimself  on  an  old  shovel  shaft,  with  a  pistol 


vSlCXORA  CAXDI-LARIA.  117 

in  his  k-fl  nii\voun(k-(l  liaiid,  tliL-  ri,t;ht  wrist  havins;-  been,  as  I  sa}',  shattered  by 
Fifldstrop's  first  shot.  Inmicdiately  iMcldstrop's  i;nn  was  aimed  at  Bill  Hart's 
breast,  bat  it  snapped  and  missed  fire.  Hart  then  instantly  fired  at  Fieldstrop, 
shooting  liim  fairly  in  the  centre  of  the  forehead.  Hart  then  retired  in  a  dying 
condition  into  the  back  room  of  the  hotise.  At  this  crisis  Jim  Taylor  came  up, 
rushed  into  the  house,  his  head  and  shoulders  well  down  to  lessen  the  risk  of 
bullets  penetrating,  they  glance  from  the  body  quicker  that  way.  Hart  shot  him 
in  the  right  breast  as  he  entered  the  backroom.  Taylor,  however,  got  Hart  by 
the  hair  of  the  head  and  dragged  him  into  the  backyard,  shooting  him  repeatedly 
in  the  bod3\  Then  a  horrible  sight — everybody,  the  small  street  gamins  even, 
coming  in  at  the  death  by  the  dozen,  discharging  their  little  pops  into  the  dying 
man,  making  a  perfect  lead  mine  of  him.  Yes,  it  was  a  terrible  morning's  work. 
He  might  have  richly  deserved  his  fate,  but  believe  me  and  I  know  of  what  I 
speak,  these  matters  are  best  settled  by  the  law.  " 


Senora  Candelaria. 

On  Saturday,  March  17th  ISSS,  St.  Patrick's  Day:  I  believe,  I  went  with  a 
friend  (who  took  his  Photographic  Camera  along  for  he   had   the  amatuer  craze) 

and  Mr.  ,  who  was  an  acquisition  on  account  of  his  fluent  knowledge 

of  the  two  languages,  Spanish  and  English,  to  call  on  the  old,  very  old,  Seiiora 
Candelaria.     Our  interview  lasted  for  upwards  of  an  hour  and  knowdng  but  little 

or  nothing  of  Spanish  myself  I  asked  her  through  Mr.  a  few  questions 

that  I  thought  would  elucidate  what  some  deemed  to  be  ol)scu re  pretentions.  The 
result  of  this  and  other  later  interviews  are  here  given,  and  the  reader  must  judge 
for  himself  the  value  of  the  statements  and  evidence.  vSlie  is  at  least  a  very  old 
and  interesting  person,  lively  and  full  of  the  recollection  and  reminiscences  of 
the  men  and  the  stirring  times  of  the  Texan  Revolution. 

1  asked  her  was  she  inside  the  fortifications  of  the  Alamo  during  the  fight? 
She  answered  unhesitatingly  "Yes."  Was  she  in  the  Alamo  Church  building 
during  the  last  stand  ?  She  replied  as  before  without  reflection  that  she  was,  in 
tho.se  moments  she  was  nursing  Colonel  James  Bowie  who  was  in  bed  very  ill  of 
typhoid  fe\er,  and  that  as  she  was  in  the  act  of  giving  him  a  drink  of  water  the 
Mexican  soldiery  rushed  in,  wounding  her  in  the  chin — .showing  an  old  .scar — and 
killing  Bowie  in  her  arms.  vShe  demonstrated  this  scene  in  quite  an  active 
fashion  and  showed  us  exactly  how  she  w^as  holding  Bowie,  her  left  arm  around 
his  .shoulders  and  a  drinking  cup  in  her  right  hand. 

I  next  asked  her  what  was  done  with  the  bodies  of  the  Texans  ?  She  said 
all  were  cremated.  With  the  Ixxlies  of  the  dead  Mexicans?  All  were  cremated. 
Were  there  many  American  {'amilies  living  in  San  Antonio  then?  Some,  but  the}^ 
all  fled  or  the  men  took  refuge  within  the  Alamo.  Did  she  know  Mrs.  Dickinson  ? 
Yes,  but  not  well.  vShe  adopted  an  expression  of  considerable  repugnance  at  this 
question,  and  said  with  some  snap  that  Mrs.  Dickinson  hated  Mexicans.      Perhaps 


118  SAN  ANTONIO  DK  BHXAR. 

Mrs.  Dickinson  had  some  reason  to  do  so  !  I  was  particular  to  ask  her  about  a 
child  of  Mrs.  Dickinson  and  she  said  that  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Dickinson  was 
fighting?  as  one  of  the  defenders  of  the  Alamo  and  that  when  he  saw  the  cau.se  was 
lost  he  ha.stened  down  from  the  walls  and  took  his  son,  a  little  child,  and  tied 
him  around  his  waist  in  front  of  him,  got  to  the  top  of  the  wall  at  the  front  of  the 
Church  and  jumped  down  among  the  fighting  Mexicans  below  and  both  were 
killed.  This  is  very  dramatic  but  it  is  not  I  believe  elsewhere  recorded.  Being 
anxious  to  know  about  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Dickinson  I  asked  her  if  .she  had  not 
heard  that  such  a  child  had  escaped  the  massacre  with  her  mother.  She  believed 
she  said,  that  Mrs.  Dickinson  had  taken  a  daughter  with  her  in  her  flight,  she 
had  been  told  so  at  any  rate. 

She  said  that  she  recollected  David  Crockett  before  the  fight.  But  she  could 
not  have  known  him  well,  for  Crockett  was  only  in  San  Antonio  a  few  weeks 
before  he  lost  his  life  in  the  Alamo.  The  rest  of  the  Texans  she  did  not  know  so 
well.  Most  of  these  men  came  to  San  Antonio  just  previous  to  the  siege.  She 
did  not  know  anything  of  Ben  Milam  who  was  killed  in  the  Veramendi  House  at 
the  storming  of  San  Antonio  in  December,  I800.  She  had  not  heard  of  him  nor 
was  she  aware  that  he  was  buried  on  Milam  Square,  and  that  there  was  a  stone 
to  his  memory  there,  though  her  house  and  jacal  were  almo.st  wdthin  a  stone 
throw  of  the  place. 

I  then  a.sked  her  age.  The  old  lady  said  one  hundred  years  and  three 
months,  holding  out  three  very  wrinkled  fingers.  Her  hands  were  large  for  a 
Mexican.  She  looked  quite  the  age  she  said,  or  older,  for  that  matter,  great 
deep  ridges,  wrinkles  and  furrows  of  .skin  on  her  face  and  hands  as  "brown  as  is 
the  ribbed  sea  sand."  She  was  almost  toothless,  very  little  hair  of  a  light 
yellowish  color.  Never  suffered  any  sickness,  quite  active,  alert  and  quick  to 
perceive  and  understand.  A  cigarette  .smoker.  Her  eyes  she  feared  were 
beginning  to  fail  her  ;  they  were  rheumish  with  red  circles  underneath. 

My  friend  next  interviewed  her  with  his  camera  and  took  two  excellent 
negatives  in  different  positions.  I  then  a.sked  her  a  question  upon  a  matter  which 
had  pu/zled  me  and  which  puzzles  me  still,  though  she  had  a  ready  an.swer  to  it 
as  she  had  for  any  other  asked.  She  informed  me  that  the  water  from  the 
Acequia  was  used  con.stantly  by  the  defenders  of  the  Alamo  during  the  siege.  I 
naturally  asked  why  the  besiegers  did  not  cut  off  the  water  or  divert  it  and  so 
distress  those  within  ?  She  said  the  Indians  at  the  Missions  would  not  have 
allowed  this  ! 

She  remembered  perfectly  that  there  was  a  roof  formerly  to  the  Alamo  Church 
])ri(>r  to  the  .siege,  but  that  it  was  destroyed  (hiring  the  siege  by  the  cannonading. 

She  had  given,  when  her  memory  was  better,  full  depositions  and  statements 
of  all  her  recollections  to  Major  Teel,  and  that  he  held  the  .same.  As  to  Mr. 
Gentil/.'s  ])icture  that  was  comi)iled  from  her  personal  descriptions  and  recollec- 
tions. It  was  very  good  :  that  it  was  an  exact  representation  of  the  Alamo  as  it 
was  at  the  time  of  its  tall,  and  that  it  gave  a  fair  idea  of  the  fight. 

She  mentioned  Mr.  Jolni  Tuoliig,  saying  thai  she  knew  liim  "  Como  mis 
manos," — "Like  my  hands,"  wliich  is  a  favorite  idiom  of  the  old  woman. 
"  Visitors  come  evcrv  day  to  see  me  to  hear  in\   story  oi  the  Alamo." 


COL.    I"ORl)\S   MI-MOIRS.  119 

Returnin.u  to  the  subject  of  David  Crockett,  the  old  Senora  said  he  was 
one  of  the  first  to  fall  :  that  he  advanced  from  the  Church  building  "towards  the 
wall  or  rampart  ruuniui;  from  the  end  of  the  stockade,  slowly  and  with  great 
deliberation,  without  arms,  when  suddenly  a  volley  was  fired  by  the  Mexicans 
causing  him  to  fall  forward  on  his  face,  dead." 

vShe  was  quite  anxious  to  remember  everything.  With  reference  to  a  man 
whom  many  regard  to  be  an  imposter,  and  of  whom  no  one  has  ever  gleaned 
anything  authentic,  Senora  Candelaria  said  she  could  endorse  him  as  another 
child  of  the  Alamo.  vShe  remembered  his  frightened  condition  during  the 
bombardment.      "  He  clutched  her  dress  as  children  do,"  trying  to  hide  his  face. 

Such  are  her  recollections  ;  the  reader  must  make  many  allowances.  So 
long  and  active  a  life  as  liers  must  be  crowded— more— overcrowded,  and  juml)led 
with  the  multitude  of  things  to  remember. 

On  other  occasions,  in  April  of  this  year,  I  revisited  her  twice  with  a  good 
interpreter  as  a  companion,  and  she  said:  "My  maiden  name  was  Andrea 
Castanou.  I  was  born  on  St.  Andrew's  day,  in  November,  1785,  at  Laredo.  I 
am  lO.")  years  old.  I  have  been  twice  married;  my  first  husband  was  Silberio 
Flores  y  Abrigo  ;  my  second  was  Candelario  \'illanueva,*  but  I  am  called 
familiarly  vSenora  Candelaria." 

I  may  add  that  I  read  to  my  companions  these  interviews  at  the  dates  of  our 
visits.  I  wrote  them  from  notes  taken  at  the  time  upon  arriving  home,  and  my 
companions  subscribed  to  every  particular. 

*  I  find  the  following  in  the  County  Records  —Kn. 

"  I  do  polemnly  swear  that  I  was  a  resident  citizen  of  Texas  at  the  date  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  That  I  did  not  leave  the  country  during  the  Campaign  of  the  spring  of  IS.JO  to  avoid  participation 
in  the  War,  and  that  I  did  not  aid  nor  assist  the  Enemy  ;  that  I  have  not  previously  received  a  title  for  my 
quantum  of  land,  and  that  I  conceive  myself  to  be  justly  entitled  under  the  Constitution  and  laws  to  the 
quantity  for  vvliich  I  now  apply.    April29th,  1837.  Cani)EL..\rio  Villanueva." 


Col.  Ford's  Memoirs. 


The  Fighting  of  the  Alamo. 

The  following  description  of  the  fall  of  the  .\lanio  is  from  the  memoirs  of  Col.  Ford,  a  gentleman  mentioned 
many  times  in  this  work-a  pioneer,  an  Indian  fighter,  a  Texan.  The  information  he  gives  is  derived  first  linnd 
from  informants  he  well  knew: 

In  18^5  General  Santa  Anna  overturned  the  republican  form  of  government 
in  Mexico  and  violated  the  constitution  of  1824.  This  instrument  the  colonists  ot 
Texas  had  sworn  to  support.  He  reduced  the  number  of  militia  in  each  state  oi 
Mexico  to  one  for  every  five  hundred  inhabitants,  and  issued  a  decree  to  disarm 
the  remainder.  The  people  of  Texas  though  numbering  less  than  IGO.OOO,  saw 
the  meaning  and  intent  of  these  movements.  They  prepared  for  resistance.  They 
sent  troops  to  invest  San  Antonio.  It  was  surrendered  by  General  Cos  on  Decem- 
ber 10,  1885,  to  the  Texans  under  General  Edward  Burleson. 

The  Texas  troops  were  disbanded  and  went  to  their  homes,  except  a  small 
force  left  in  San  Antonio,  commanded  by  Colonel  Neill.     General  Cos  and  his  com- 


120  vSAX  AXTOXIO  I)K  BKXAR. 

uiand  moved  in  the  direction  of  Laredo.     They  were  paroled  and  jiromised  not  to 
bear  arms  against  Texas  during  the  war. 

The  body  known  as  the  "Consultation"  reassembled  at  San  Felipe  de  Austin 
November  1,  1835.  They  formulated  a  provisional  government,  elected  Henry 
Smith,  governor  ;  James  W.  Robinson,  lieutenant-governor  :  Sam  Houston,  com- 
mander-in-chief, and  elected  five  of  their  members  to  remain  and  assi.st  the  gov 
ernor  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  The  "Consultation"  adjourned  to  meet  at 
Washington,  on  the  Brazos,  March  1,  1836.  The  five  members  remaining  at  San 
Felipe  de  Austin  took  it  upon  themselves  to  control  the  governor  and  General 
Houston.  Deposed  the  governor,  advocated  the  invasion  of  Mexico,  appointed 
officers  to  command,  and  had  a  large  number  of  troops  in  the  west  where  they 
were  beaten  in  detail. 

Colonel  Bowie  aided  General  Houston  in  his  efforts  to  concentrate  the  Texas 
troops.  He  came  to  San  Antonio,  saw  Colonel  Neill,  who  soon  after  left,  with  a 
view,  as  many  affirm,  to  procure  transportation  to  move  the  artillery  and  munitions 
of  war.  He  carried  Deaf  Smith  with  him.  He  left  Colonel  James  Bowie  in  com- 
mand. Bowie  fell  sick.  In  a  few  days  Colonel  Travis  arrived  and  assumed  com- 
mand. Juan  N.  Seguin  sent  a  cousin  of  his  to  Laredo  with  orders  to  report  the 
appearance  of  a  force  from  Mexico  of  sufficient  strength  to  invade  Texas.  He 
returned  and  affirmed  that  General  Santa  Anna  had  crossed  the  Rio  Grande  with 
an  army.  He  forced  General  Cos  and  his  men  to  violate  their  parole,  and  to  take 
service  against  the  Texans. 

When  the  report  was  made  at  San  Antonio,  the  Texans  refused  to  believe  it. 
They  remained  too  near  the  town  to  learn  what  was  transpiring  outside.  A  sen- 
tinel was  placed  in  the  church  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  One  day  he  reported 
Mexican  troops  westward  of  the  town.  A  man  ascended  to  him  and  was  unable  to 
see  any  armed  men.  The  sentinel  was  accused  of  reporting  falsely.  Eventually 
Travis  ordered  Dr.  John  Sutherland  and  J.  W.  Smith  to  go  out  on  horseback  and 
ascertain  the  truth.  They  proceeded  to  the  top  of  Prospect  Hill,  and  found  them- 
selves within  1")()  yards  of  the  Mexican  army.  They  started  back  at  a  run.  Suth- 
erland's horse  gathered  mud  on  his  feet,  turned  a  somersault,  crippled  Sutherland 
and  broke  his  gun.  vSmith  dismounted  and  relieved  Sutherland.  When  they 
reached  town  and  reported  all  was  in  commotion.  Travis  marched  the  Texans  to 
the  Alamo.  On  the  way  they  found  twenty  or  thirty  beeves,  which  they  drove  into 
the  fort.  All  was  activity  now.  The  first  thing  was  to  place  the  building  in  a 
position  to  stand  the  seigc.  That  niglil  lliey  tore  down  a  number  of  "jacales" 
(huts)  not  far  from  the  Alamo,  and  l^ronght  in  the  wood  for  cooking.  Men  were 
told  what  part  of  the  walls  they  were  to  defend.  David  Crockett  and  his  twelve 
brave  Tennesseeans  were  allotted  a  conspicuous  point  to  cover.  Every  man  was 
at  his  post  and  ready  for  duty.  This  is  learned  from  Dr.  Sutherland  who  wrote  an 
article  on  the  fall  of  the  Alamo,  full  of  information.  He  was  too  badly  hurt  by  the 
fall  of  his  horse  to  do  good  duty,  and  for  llmt  reason  Col.  Travis  directed  him  to 
l)roceed  to  Gonzales  and  ])Vocure  reinforcements,  a  duly  he  performed  properh-  and 
promptly. 

C.eii.  Santa  Anna  reached  San  Antonio  February  "J^nd  or  "J-'ird.  Two  nights 
previously  he  encamped  on  the  Medina  where  he  learned  the  Texans  were  attend- 


COL.  I'ORD'S   MI'.MOIkS.  1-M 

iiij:  a  faiulaii.^o.  IK-  foiuKd  Ur-  icka  of  reaching  and  allackinj^-  them  before  day- 
light. He  was  encamped  on  botli  sides  of  the  Medina.  His  ammunition  wagons 
were  on  the  west  bank.  A  rain  had  fallen  and  the  river  liad  risen  suddeidy  andlie 
found  it  impossible  to  get  ready.  A  norther  was  blowing.  Under  the  circum- 
stances he  gave  up  the  movement. 

He  was  of  the  opinion  that  the  Texians  would  occupy  the  Mission  Concep- 
cion.  He  said  it  afforded  more  facilities  for  defense  by  a  small  force  than  the 
Alamo. 

Cxcneral  Santa  Anna's  army  numbered  about  4,000.  General  Tolsa  was 
expected  to  arrive  soon  at  the  head  «f '2,000  men. 

Dr.  Sutherland  mentions  the  sending  of  a  couple  of  officers,  under  a  white  flag 
to  demand  a  surrender  of  the  Alamo.  Colonel  Travis  dispatched  Major  Morris 
and  Captain  Martin  to  meet  them.  They  had  a  conference  on  a  foot-bridge  just 
above  the  present  bridge  on  Commerce  street.  Colonel  Travis  answered  by  a  cannon 
shot. 

General  Santa  Anna  intended  crossing  the  river  below  the  Alamo,  out  of  reach 
of  Colonel  Travis'  guns.  He  directed  General  Castrillon,  with  two  companies  of  the 
battalion  of  Matamoras,  to  gather  timbers  to  make  a  bridge  from  houses  on  the 
Alamo  side.  They  were  in  reach  of  the  rifles  of  the  Texians.  Within  a  few  minutes 
thirty  of  the  Mexicans  were  killed.  General  Castrillon  requested  General  Santa 
Anna  to  order  their  withdrawal,  if  he  wished  to  save  their  lives.  They  were 
withdrawn  at  once. 

The  unequal  contest  was  now  opened. 

On  the  third  day  of  March,  Travis  addressed  a  last  appeal  to  the  president  ot 
the  convention  at  Washington  on  the  Brazos.  He  said  that  "the  blood  red  ban- 
ners which  waved  on  the  church  at  Bexar  and  in  the  camp  above  him  were  tokens 
that  the  war  was  one  of  vengeance  against  rebels."  To  a  friend  in  Washington 
county  he  wrote:  "Take  care  of  my  little  boy.  If  the  country  .should  be  saved  I 
may  make  him  a  splendid  fortune,  but  if  the  country  should  be  lost  and  I  .should 
perish,  he  wnll  have  nothing  but  the  proud  recollection  that  he  is  the  .son  of  a  man 
who  died  for  his  coinitr>-." 

On  February  -J-'Ird  Travis  wrote  to  h^rnnin  at  Goliad,  asking  for  assistance. 
Fannin  attempted  to  march  to  San  Antonicj  on  the  •JSth,  but  failed  for  want  of  trans- 
portation. This  was  the  last  chance  apparently  available  to  aid  the  defenders  of 
the  Alamo. 

On  March  3rd  Tolsa  reached  San  Antonio.  General  Santa  Anna  began  to  pre- 
pare for  the  final  a.ssault  on  the  Alamo.  On  the  5th  day  of  March,  Santa  Anna 
is.sued  an  order  for  an  assault  on  the  Alamo,  naming  the  officers  to  take  charge  of 
the  four  attacking  columns,  the  columns  to  be  in  readiness  at  4  o'clock  a.  m.,  and 
to  move  at  the  .sound  of  the  bugle  at  the  north  battery,  where  he  would  i)e  sta- 
tioned. 

Sergeant  Becera  thus  describes  the  contest  of  March  (ith,  is;',r): 

"The  troops  under  General  Castrillon  moved  in  silence.  They  reached  the 
fort,   planted  scaling  ladders  and  commenced  ascending,  some  mounted  ujion  the 


122  SAN  ANTONIO  DK  REXAR. 

shoulders  of  others.  A  terrible  fire  belched  from  the  interior.  Men  fell  from  the 
scaling  ladders  by  the  score,  many  pierced  through  the  head  by  balls,  others  felled 
by  clubbed  guns.  The  dead  and  wounded  covered  the  ground.  After  half  an 
hour  of  fierce  conflict,  after  the  sacrifice  of  many  lives,  the  column  of  General  Cas- 
trillon  succeeded  in  making  a  lodgment  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Alamo  to  the 
northeast.  It  was  a  sort  of  outwork.  I  think  it  is  now  used  as  a  lot  or  a  court- 
yard. This  seeming  advantage  was  a  mere  prelude  to  the  desperate  struggle 
which  ensued.  The  doors  of  the  Alamo  building  were  barricaded  by  bags  of  sand 
as  high  as  the  neck  of  a  man;  the  windows  also.  On  the  top  of  the  roofs  of  the 
different  apartments  were  rows  of  sandbags  to  cover  the  besieged. 

•'Our  troops,  in.spired  by  success,  continued  tlie  attack  with  energy  and  bold- 
ness. The  Texians  fought  like  devils.  It  was  at  short  range — muzzle  to  muzzle, 
hand  to  hand,  musket  and  rifle,  bayonet  and  bowie  knife — all  were  mingled  in  con- 
fu.sion.  Here  a  squad  of  Mexicans,  there  a  Texian  or  two.  The  crash  of  fire  arms 
the  shouts  of  defiance,  the  cries  of  the  dying  and  the  wounded,  made  a  din  almost 
infernal.  The  Texians  defended  desperately  every  inch  of  the  fort — overpowered 
by  numbers  they  would  be  forced  to  abandon  a  room.  They  would  rally  in  the 
next,  and  defend  it  until  further  resistance  became  impo.ssible. 

"General  Tolsa's  command  forced  an  entrance  at  the  door  of  the  church 
building.  He  met  the  same  determined  resistance  without  and  within.  He  won 
by  force  of  numliers  and  a  great  sacrifice  of  life. 

"There  was  a  long  room  on  the  ground  floor.  It  was  darkened.  Here  the 
fight  was  bloody.  It  proved  to  be  the  hospital.  A  detachment  of  which  I  had 
command  had  captured  a  piece  of  artillery.  It  was  placed  near  the  door  of  the 
hospital,  doubly  charged  with  grape  and  canister,  and  fired  twice.  We  entered 
and  found  the  coqxses  of  fifteen  Texians.  On  the  outside  we  atterward  found 
forty-two  dead  Mexicans. 

"On  the  top  of  the  church  I)uilding  I  saw  eleven  Texians.  They  had  some 
small  pieces  of  artillery  and  were  firing  on  the  cavalry  and  on  those  engaged  in 
making  the  escalade.  Their  ammunition  was  exhausted  and  they  were  loading 
with  pieces  of  iron  and  nails.  The  captured  piece  was  placed  in  a  position  to 
reach  them,  doubly  charged,  and  fired  with  so  much  effect  that  they  cea.sed  work- 
ing their  pieces."  *  ='■  *  '■'■'•  '■"■'•  :]:**** 

Sergeant  Becera  was  of  oi)inion  that  the  two  last  men  killed  were  Travis 
and  Crockett,  though  he  admitted  he  did  not  know  them  personally  and  might  be 
mistaken  as  to  their  identity. 

The  Alamo,  as  has  l)een  stated,  was  entered  at  daylight;  the  fight  did  not 
cease  till  9  o'clock. 

"General  Santa  Anna  directed  Colonel  Mora  to  send  out  his  cavalry  to  bring 
in  wo(kI.  He  ordered  that  they  .should  make  prisoners  of  all  the  inhaljitants  they 
might  meet,  and  force  them  to  jiack  wood  to  the  Alamo.  In  this  nianner  a  large 
quantity  of  wood  was  collected.  A  large  jnle  was  raised.  It  consisted  of  layers 
of  wood  and  layers  of  cor])ses  of  Texians.  It  was  .set  on  fire.  The  bodies  of  those 
brave  men  who  fell  fighting  that  morning,  as  men  have  seldom  fought,  were 
reduced  to  ashes  before  the  sun  was  set.      It  was  a  melancholy  s]K-ctacle." 


COL.  I'ORD'S   MI'MOIRS.  123 

Don  lino  Ruiz,  a  rcspcctaljlc  Mexican  ol"  r.rownsville,  claiuKcl  to  have  l)een 
one   of  the   men    coniiK-lled   to  pack  wood   on    that   occasion.        *  *  * 

Mr.  Nat;le,  an  Ivn.nlishnian,  inscril)e(l  liieir  names  on  a  stone  of  the  Alamo. 
It  has  an  inscriiUion:  '  ■Thermoi)yke  liad  h.er  messenger  of  defeat,  but  the  Ak^mo 
had  none."     Tiiat  memorial  is  at  An-tin. 

The  number  of  Texians  who  fell  cannot  be  accurately  ascertained.  Dr. 
vSutherland  placed  it  at  172.  About  twenty  Mexican.s  joined  them.  But  four  of 
these  remained  to  be  massacred. 

Eight  or  ten  Mexican  ladies  were  in  the  Alamo  when  it  fell.  Mrs.  Als- 
bury,  an  adopted  daughter  of  Governor  Veramendi  and  her  little  sister,  Seiioras 
Candelaria,  Losoyo  and  others  were  present  at  the  end  of  the  .siege.  Senora 
Candelaria  was  nursing  Bowie,  .sick  of  typhoid  fever.  She  says  she  raised 
his  head  to  give  him  water,  when  the  Mexican  soldiers  came  in  bayoneted  him 
and  gave  her  a  wound  in  the  face.  Mrs.  Alsbury  told  Mrs.  Maverick  that  the 
Mexican  soldiers  hoisted  Colonel  Bowie's  body  on  their  bayonets  until  the  blood 
covered  their  clothes.     A  Mexican  colonel  ru.shed  to  them  and  stopped  them. 

Sergeant  Becera  thus  speaks  of  the  Mexican  loss  and  is  corro1)orated  l)y  Dr. 
Sutherland: 

"There  was  an  order  to  gather  our  own  dead  and  wounded.  It  was  a  fear- 
ful sight.  Our  lifeless  soldiers  covered  the  ground  surrounding  the  Alamo.  They 
were  heaped  inside  the  fortress.  Blood  and  brains  covered  the  earth,  the  floor, 
and  had  .spattered  the  walls.  The  ghastly  faces  of  our  comrades  met  our  gaze. 
We  removed  the  bodies  with  despondent  hearts.  Our  loss  in  front  of  the  Alamo 
was  represented  at  two  thou.sand  killed,  and  more  than  three  hundred  wounded. 
The  killed  were  generally  struck  on  the  head.  The  wounds  were  generally  in  the 
neck  or  .shoulders,  seldom  below  that.  The  firing  of  the  beseiged  was  fearfully 
precise.  When  a  Texas  rifle  was  leveled  at  a  Mexican  he  was  con.sidered  as 
good  as  dead.  All  this  indicates  the  dauntle.ss  bravery  and  the  cool  .self-po.sses- 
.sion  of  the  men  who  were  engaged  in  a  hopeless  conflict  with  an  enemy  number- 
ing more  than  twenty  to  one.  They  inflicted  on  us  a  loss  ten  times  greater  than 
they  siistained.  The  victory  of  the  Alamo  was  dearly  l)o\,ight.  Indeed  the  price 
in  the  end  was  well  nigh  the  ruin  of  Mexico." 


124 


SAX  AXTOXIO  1)1'    BKXAR. 


The  Alamo  Monument. 


Alamo  at  Austin,  has  Travis  on  the  vSouth  front, 
ockctt  on  tlie  Xorth  front  and  Honham  on  the  West 
bed  on  the  Xorth  and  v^'outli  fronts,    by    Mr.    Xagle, 


The  monument  of  the 
Bowie  on  the  Ivist  front,  Ci 
front.  Beneath  these,  iuscri 
are  the  following  names  : 

M.  Autrev, 

R.  Alleu,' 

M.  Audress, 

Ayers, 

Anderson, 

W.  Blazeby, 

J.  B.  Bournan, 

Baker, 

S.  C.  Blair, 

Blair, 

Brown, 

Bowin, 

Balentine, 

J.  J.  Baugh, 

Burnell, 

J.  Butler, 

J.  Baker. 

Burns, 

Bailey, 

J.  Beard, 

Baliess, 

Bourne, 

R.  Cunningham, 

J.  Clark, 

J.  Cane, 

Cloud, 

S.  Crawford, 

Cary 

W.  Cunmiings, 

R.  Crossman, 

Cockran, 

G.  Cottle, 

S.   Dust, 

J.  Dillard, 

A.  Dickinson, 

C.  Dfspalier, 
L.  Davell, 
J.  C.  Day, 
J.  Dickens, 
Devault, 
W    Deadruff, 
J.  Krving, 
T.  R.  Kvans, 

D.  Floyd, 
J.  Flanders, 
W.  F'islipangh, 
F'orsvthe, 
G.    Fuga, 
J.  C.  Goodrich, 
J.  George. 
J.  (iaston, 
J.  C.  Garrett, 
C.  (irimes, 
Groyn, 

To  these  Mrs.  Candelar 

Jose-  Marc-ra  Cahro 
I%]ijio  or  I'^lias  I.os 

These  make  170  slain. 

*  It  is  also  <lfsiKnc<l  lo  rear  a  sliaft  in  tlit-  centre  of  Alnino  Plaza,  to  connneniorate,  in  niai 
the  incidents  of  the  (iKht  of  the  Alamo,  ami  of  other  contests  of  the  revolntion  ajfainst  Mc 
for  this  ni(jniinient  has  already  been  set  aside  hy  the  city  council  of  San   .Xnlonio. 


J.  v..  Garwin, 
Gillniore, 
Hutchason 
S.  Hollaway, 
Harrison, 
Hieskell, 
J.  Haves, 
Ilorrell, 
Harris. 
Haukins, 
J.  Holland, 
W.  Hersie, 
Ingram, 
John 
J.  Jones, 
L,  Johnson, 

C.  B  Jamison, 
W.  Johnson, 
T. Jackson, 

D.  Jackson, 
Jackson, 

G.  Kemble, 

A.  Kent, 

W.  King, 

Kenney, 

J.  Kenny, 

Lewis, 

W.  Linn, 

Lanio, 

W.  Lightfoot, 

Wm.  Lightfoot, 

G.  W.  Lynn, 

Lewis, 

J.  Lonly, 

\V.  Mills, 

Micheson, 

R.  T,  Mitchell, 

E.  Melton, 
McGregor, 
T.  Miller, 
J.  McCoy, 
K.  Morton, 

R.  Mussalman, 

Millsop, 

R.  B.  .Moore, 

W.  Marshall, 

Moore, 

R.  McKenney, 

McCaferty. 

J.  McGee, 

G.  W.  Main, 

(i.  Nel.son, 

Nelson, 

J.  Noland. 

ia  adds  the  following  Mexic; 
ra,  Tula,  Mexico.  Jose  Maria  Jii 
oya,  San  .Antonio. Jacinl< 

Dr.  vSutherland  stated  172. 


Nelson, 

Wm.  G.  Nelson, 

C.  Ostiner, 

Pelone, 

C.   Parker, 

N.  Pollard, 

G.  Paggan. 

McQuerry, 

S.  Robinson, 

Reddenson, 

N.  Rough, 

Rusk. 

Robbius, 

\V.  Smith, 

Sears, 

C.  Smith, 

Stockton, 

Stewart, 

A.  Smith, 

J.  C.  Smith, 

Sewall, 

A.  Smith, 

vSimpson, 

R.  Star. 

Starn, 

N.  Sutherland, 

W.  vSuuimers, 

J.  Summerline 

Th'^mpson, 

Tomlinson, 

E.  Taylor,  ) 

(i.  Taylor,  [  Bros. 

J.    Ta'vlor,  j 

W.  Taylor, 

Thornion, 

Thomas, 

J.  M.  Thruston, 

Valentine. 

Williamson, 

J.  L.  Wilson, 

Warner, 

I).  Wilson, 

Walsh, 

Washington, 

W.  Wells, 

C.  Wright, 

R.  White. 

J.  Washington, 

T.  Waters, 

Warnall, 

T.  White, 

b.  Wilson, 

J.  Wilson, 

A.  Wolf. 


•IKS,  Mexico. 
Ironi  the  coast 


if  Texas. 


THI-:  COrXTV    Rl-:C()Rl)vS.  l"2o 

The  County  Records. 

The  expression  "liuutin-  il  up  in  tlie  records"  is  an  apt  phrase.  It  must 
have  been  coined  by  a  man  who  could  appreciate  the  similarity  of  the  keen  feel- 
ing of  the  chase  with  that  ardor  that  an  elusive  fact  arouses  in  one  when  it  is  traced 
and  followed  from  document  to  document  until— piny:  1  and  you  have  it  on  the 
point  of  your  Faber.  It  is  almost  like  the  pig  sticking  of  India— for  '  'facts  are  stub- 
born things."  Many  an  enjoyable  '  'run"  has  been  made  in  the  County  Vault,  with 
what  measure  of  success  we  leave  the  reader  and  critic  to  judge.  If  our  bag  is 
not  full  and  we  fail  to  obtain  a  mede  of  admiration  for  good  sport,  we  still  have 
the  relish  of  the  pui'suit,  not  to  speak  of  the  remembrance  of  the  encouragement 
and  help  that  has  ever  generously  been  accorded  by  that  Nimrod  of  the  records, 
Mr.  Thad.  Smith.  To  him  our  thanks  are  due  for  many  a  hint.  His  aid  was  found 
invaluable.  His  intimate  knowledge  of  the  vast  amount  of  writing  stowed 
away  enabled  us  to  take  many  a  short  cut.  The  task  we  set  ourselves  is  all  but 
completed  and  space  only  allows  of  the  merest  mention  of  so  much  that  would 
make  the  most  interesting  reading  if  intelligently  edited  and  compiled.  Suffice 
it  to  say  that  there  is  material  enough  and  to  spare  to  weave  either  history  or 
romance  interminable.  Romance  of  real  events  and  life,  stranger  than  the 
strangest  fiction.  Deeds,  documents,  proclamations,  letters,  wills,  statements, 
dispatches,  grants  and  agreements,  in  fine  every  form  of  documentary  evidence 
relating  to  the  doings  of  Bexar  and  its  restless  children  for  a  hundred  and  fifty 
years. 

Here,  a  document  relating  to  deep  water  on  the  coast— not  by  any  means  a 
new  question  it  appears  for  it  speaks  of  the  exploration  of  Matagorda  and  Aran- 
zuzu  Bays,  by  the  Conde  de  Galvez  in  Um,  one  expedition  going  by  land  and 
another  by  sea,  when  it  was  reported  among  other  things  that  "the  port  of  Mata- 
gorda has  a  good  depth."  Again,  in  June,  1S()4  an  expedition  went  forth  to 
explore,  and  the  explorers  had  to  anchor,  we  are  told,  for  three  days  in  Kspiritu 
Santo  bay.  Other  papers  endorsed  '  'Geographical"  are  doubtless  of  historical  inter- 
est. Here,  are  papers  relating  to  the  partition  of  the  Mission  Concepcion  lands, 
with  the  names,  sexes  and  condition  of  the  recii)ients,  dated  A.  I).  ITSfi. 

The  next  paper  is  a  description  of  a  disastrous  flood  of  the  San  Antonio  river 
and  ditches  which  destroyed  much  property,  with  a  list  of  drowning  casualties, 
July  5th,  1819.  Following  is  a  royal  decree  making  vaccination  cominalsory. 
dated  May  2()th  1804.  Another  census  of  the  Missions.  Decrees  of  Coahuila 
and  Texas,  ISOS.  Census  of  the  Alamo,  Dec.  .".1st,  1808.  City  ordinances  18-27-28, 
Boundaries  of  Texas.  Anglo-Americans  and  tiieir  doings.  Description  of  jail 
and  barracks  built  by  Ripperda  in  ITT"..  Then  an  intensely  interesting  letter 
from  Antonio  Morales,  from  New  Orleans  ju>,t  alter  the  battle  in  181.-),  concern- 
ing the  pirates  of  the  gulf  coast  and  the  part  they  took  in  the  fight.  Ordinances 
of  La  Villa  Capital  de  San  Fernando  founded  November  28th,  1T;>0  by  Antonio 
de  Aviles,  or  rather  the  growing  settlement  was  then  erected  into  a  Royal 
Presidio.  Large  numbers  of  military  paj^ers,  rosters  and  rolls  of  the  Spanish 
armies.  Papers  relating  to  American  colonists  and  their  "  uprisings" — prisoner^; 
of  war. 


12(i  SAX  ANTOXiO  DK  BKXAR. 

This  is  only  a  partial  list  of  the  historical  evidence  accuimilated  in  the  county 
vault.  It  is  sufficient  to  show  that  there  is  much  material  for  an  aml)iti()us  local 
historian. 

Mem.— In  the  Coiinly  Records  may  be  seen  a  power  of  attorney  to  Domingo  Hnstillo  from  James  Bowie,  to 
administer  James  Howie's  property  and  the  property  Ijelonging  to  James  Bowie's  deceased  wife,  I'rsula  de  Vera- 
mendi,  during  his,  tlie  said  James  Bowie's  absence  from  San  Antonio,     Dated  June  2(ith,  IS:;^. 

Mem.— The  Saints  are  usually  .spoken  of  in  the  documents  as  "Sefior  San  Jose.  etc.  " 


The  Founding  of  the  Town  of  San  Fernando 


By  the  Canary  Island  Settlers,  1730-31. 

On  pages  293  et  seq.,  of  the  work  "Apuntes  para  la  Historia  Antigua  de  Coa- 
huila  y  Texas,"  por  Esteban  L.  Portillo,  already  mentioned  in  a  note  appended  to 
the  plan  of  Mission  Concepcion,  are  some  interesting  passages  of  earliest  San  Anto- 
nio history.  The  author,  Portillo,  gives  at  length  a  document  which  he  says  is 
to  be  found  in  the  City  Records  of  Saltillo  concerning  certain  aid  and  assi.stance 
rendered  by  Don  Mathias  de  Aguirre  to  the  sixteen  families  of  Canary  Lsland 
emigrants  when  on  their  way  through  Saltillo  to  the  Presidio  of  San  Antonio  de 
Bexar.  The  document  as  it  stands  is  not  quite  lucid,  at  least  not  from  the  modern 
reader's  point  of  view.  It  requires  some  explanation  here  and  there,  and  the  edi- 
tor regrets  that  for  the  present  he  is  unable  to  inspect  the  original  document, 
to  see  if  there  is  not  "more  to  it."  For  instance,  these  sixteen  Canary  Island  fam- 
ilies, numbering,  as  the  document  avers,  fifty-six  persons,  arrived  in  San  Antonio 
according  to  accepted  history  and  tradition,  on  Xovember  28th,  1730,  and  here 
apparently,  are  fifteen  persons  representing  sixteen  families,  four  of  whom  rep- 
resent one  family  of  themselves,  *  already  (Jan,  29th,  1731),  back  in  Saltillo. 
witnessing  to  this  voucher  of  substance  delivered  to  them,  all  in  order  that 
Don  Mathias  de  Aguirre  may  be  paid.  Are  we  to  suppose  that  these  men 
made  the  long  weary  journey  back  to  Saltillo  just  for  this  purpose  and  noth- 
ing more,  or  was  Saltillo  the  early  trading  post  of  this  new  Texas  Territory  and 
did  they  visit  vSaltillo  for  these  two  or  more  purposes?  The  reader  must  answer 
for  himself  this  and  other  questions  that  will  naturally  arise  upon  the  perusal  of 
the  following  most  interesting  matter  : 

The  author  E.  L.  Portillo  says  : 

"  By  a  Royal  decree  of  10th  May,  1723,  the  King  of  vSpain  ordered  that  four 
hundred  families  from  the  Canary  Islands  should  emigrate  (pasaran)  to  populate 
Texas. 

"  I  think  it  opportune  that  the  names  of  the  founders  of  Bexar  should  be 
known,  after  having  remained  forgotten  for  so  many  years.  In  an  official  docu- 
ment exi.sting  in  the  Archives  of  the  Town  Hall  of  this  c'liyr  is  to  he  found  a 
valuable  record  leading  back  to  the  year  17-">1." 

*This  rcadN  something  like  oni  ol'tliD-t  i(|u.ili(ins  in -Mgebra  with    whicli  llie  good   Bishop  Colenso   used  to 
puzzle  us. — 

t  Saltillo,  Mexico. 


THlv   I'OrXDIXC;   OF  Till-    TOWN   ()!•   SAX    I- I'RXAXDO.  PJT 

In  the  town  of  Santiaj^o  del  vSaltillo  de  la  Nucva  Vi/.oaia,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  January, 
171)1,  appeared  present  before  me  the  Notary  Public  and  the  undersi^^Mied  witnesses  : 

Juan  Leal  (roraz,  Juan  Leal  the  boy,  Antonio  vSantos,  vSalvador  Rodrij^uez,  Josephc 
Cabrera,  Manuel  de  Niz,  Francisco  Arocha,  Vicente  Alvarez,  Juan  Delgado,  Marino  Melano, 
Juan  Curbelo,  and  Phelipe  Perez,  Josephe  Antonio,  Martin  Lorenzo,  Ignacio  Lorenzo. 
These  last  four  comprise  one  family.  They  are  sixteen  families,  although  the  Derrotero 
counted  but  fifteen.  It  wa.s  resolved  here  by  Captain  Don  Mathias  de  Aguirre,  at  the  request 
of  the  above  named  parties,  to  adjust  (or  regulate)  for  sixteen  families,  numbering  altogether 
fifty-six  persons,  and  these  families  declared  that  having  presented  and  represented  in  writing 
to  Captain  Mathias  de  Aguirre  that  they  came  without  provisions  of  any  kind  and  were  with 
neither  mules  nor  horses,  as  stated  to  his  Honour  (or  to  his  Worship)  and  proved  by  the  fact 
that  the  horses  they  had  exchanged  were  unable  to  continue  the  journey,  and  the  mules  had 
been  returned  to  their  owners  ;  that  in  order  that  they  might  be  enabled  to  continue  the 
journey  to  the  Presidio  of  San  Antonio  de  Vejar*  they  were  given  what  was  most  convenient 
and  necessary,  namely  :  Kighty-six  horses,  as  stated  in  detail  in  the  account  of  the  repartition 
that  was  made  to  each  one  of  the  families  ;  also,  .sevent3--seven  mules  loaded  with  provisions 
for  their  maintenance  during  the  journey  from  this  town  to  San  .Antonio;  also,  twenty-seven 
mules  moreover  to  carry  biscuit,  meat  and  everything  needed  and  necessary  ;  also,  four  mules 
employed  to  carr\'  four  panier  loads  (cargas  de  arganas),  making  in  all  the  number  alludeil 
to,  seventy-.seven  t  mules.  Also,  sixteen  yokes  of  oxen.  But  His  Rxcellency  ordered  Captain 
Don  Mathias  de  Aguirre  to  give  only  fifteen  }-okes,  yet  there  was  added  one  yoke  for  the  four 
single  men  who  make  up  a  family,  adding  to  said  yoke  the  necessary  ploughshare,  an  axe  and 
a  pickaxe.  In  the  same  manner  they  declared  having  received  from  the  said  Captain  sixteen 
metates  J  with  their  grinding  stones,  as  His  Excellency  had  ordered  the  said  Captain.  And 
they  said  that  the  said  Captain  had  delivered  faithfully  and  without  fault  in  the  said  Presidio 
de  San  Antonio  de  Bejar  the  sixteen  yokes  of  oxen.  All  of  wdiich  contained  in  aforesaid 
arrived  as  expressed  (or  stated).  They  confessed  and  acknowledged  to  have  received  con- 
formably all  the  above-mentioned,  remaining  satisfied;  renouncing  the  laws  of  the  delivered 
(las  leyes  de  la  cntrega)  and  the  proof  of  the  receipt  contained  in  them.  Leaving  the  payment 
of  the  amount  to  the  will  and  convenience  of  His  Excellency  the  Viceroy,  Governor  and  Cap- 
tain General  of  this  New  Spain,  which  amount  the  said  Don  Mathias  de  Aguirre  will  give  in 
detail  to  the  officials  of  the  Royal  Treasury  in  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  to  his  Attorney,  in 
order  that  he  be  paid  the  sum  that  would  be  equivalent  to  the  above  named  in  conformity  with 
that  which  His  Excellenc}-  would  be  pleased  to  determine  and  order  to  be  executed,  and  in 
order  that  all  agreed  upon  remain  as  expressed  in  the  above  named  contents,  they  signed  it, 
the  witnesses  being 

Joseph  Ramon  Ramos,  Diego  de  los  vSantos  and  .\ugustiu  de  Imenarritta,  present,  and 
neighbors  of  this  said  town,  and  who  signed  it  at  the  request  of  those  who  could  not  sign,  and 
those  that  could  sign  for  themselves  before  me,  the  present  Notar}-,  I  certify 

Juan  Leal  (roraz,  Francisco  Arocha,  Bisente  Alvarez,  Francisco  Antonio  SantO'-,  Juan  Del- 
gado,  at  request  of  Juan  Curbelo,  Manuel  de  Niz,  Juan  Leal  the  boy,  Josephe  Cabrera,  Salvador 
Rodriguez.  Josephe  Padron,  and  the  four  that  comprised  the  extra  family  ;  and  for  the  widows 
Maria  Rodriguez  and  Maria  Meleano.  (Witnesses)  Diego  de  los  Santos,  Josephe  Ramon  Ramos, 
Augustin  Imenarrieta.     Before  me,  Juan  Sanchez  de  Tagle, 

Royal  Notary  Public  and  of  the  Corporation. || 

"At  that  epoch  the  Marquis  of  Casa  Ftterte  was  Governor  in  New  Spain,  it 
was  he  \vh  ;  ordered  Oeneral  Don  Mathias  de  Aguirre  to  provide  the  .settlers  of 
San  Antonio  de  liejar  with  necessaries  to  enal)!e  them  to  continue  their  expedi- 
tion to  the  said  Presidio. 

'-  The  various  spellings  of  Bexar  are  indicative  of  the  plasticity  of  Spanish  pronunciation. 

t  The  translation  is  not  at  fault,  but  there  seems  to  be  an  error  here  in  addition  on  the  part  of  some  one. 

I  The  Mexican  hand-mill  for  crushing  grain. 

I,  Cabildo. 


128 


SAX   AXTOXK)   Dlv  l^'XAR. 


"General  Aguirre  died  Ixjfore  the  X'iceregal  Government  had  paid  him  the 
value  of  the  animals  and  provisions  that  he  had  furnished  from  his  own  resources. 
For  this  reason  Seiiora  Ana  Maria  de  Almandos,  wife  of  the  defunct  Aguirre  exe- 
cuted a  power  in  Saltillo  on  the  first  of  October,  of  the  year  17-'!_',  before  the  Pub- 
lic Notary  Dn.  Juan  Sanchez  de  Tagle,  in  favor  of  Un.  Fernando  de  Ugarte,  of 
the  vicinity  of  the  Capital  of  Mexico,  in  order  to  attend  before  the  Viceroy  to  the 
payment  which  was  due  her  defunct  husband. 

"The  four  hundred  families,  that  the  King  had  ordered  to  be  transported  to 
Texas  instead  of  having  been  sent  direct  to  that  province,  were  disembarked  at  the 
Port  of  Vera  Cruz  so  that  they  might  arrive  at  their  destination  overland,  and  we 
see  that  only  sixteen  families  arrived  in  Bexar  and  they  were  the  founders  of  San 
Fernando  contiguous  to  the  Mission  of  San  Antonio." 


..iSink 


Historical,    Statistical   and  Interesting  Dates  of,  and 
Relating  to  the  City  of  San  Antonio. 


1 

\  '^'h- ' ' 

r-. 

JANUARY. 


hMrst  ])roinint'iil  settlement  near  the  head  of  the   San 
Antonio  River,  1692. 

Tile  first  charter  was  "granted  to  San   Antonio  by   the 
Kinji  of  Spain  in  i  73 ,  or   1734. 


La  Salle  landed  al)t)nt  this  time  on  the  Texas  coast 1685 

Edward  King  writes  "A  Visit  to  San  Antonio,"   A  sketcli    for   Scribner's    Ma}j;a/.ine 

for  January 1874 

Wells,  Fargo  8:  Co. 's  Ivxpress  opens  here  for  the   Sunset    Road 1883 


The  I'uebla  of  San  Antonio  dc  Valero  is  aggregated  to  the  curacy  of  the  town   of  San 

I'-ernando  and  Presidio  of  San  Antonio  de   Bexar 1793 


Sam  lh)uston  comes  to  San  .\ntonio  for   the    first   time   about   this   date   in   company 

with  James  Howie 1833 

One  hundreil  men  of  the  Third  Michigan  Cavalry  arrested  for  mutiny 1866 


Mr.  W.  G.  Tobin  shows  his  great  skill  as  a  pistol  marksman  by  shooting  an  apple,  at 
a  distance  of  thirty  feet,  off  the  head  of  Thom.son  (Ireen  of  New  York,  at  a  shoot- 
ing gallery  here  1858 

East  Commerce   Street  Railroad   is  begun 1884 

San  Antonio  and  Aransas  I'ass  Railroad  gets  to   Eloresville 1886 


An  Act  to  incorporate  the  town   of  Nacogdoches  and   other  towns   (in   which   is   in- 
cluded San  Antonio)  herein  named,  by  the  Re])ublic  of  Texas  12nd  document)  .    .  1837 


IMO  SAX   AXTOMO   DI'.    IH'XAR. 

6 

I-'irst  iiieeliiiii  of  vSaii  Antonio  Literary   Association 1860 

7 

Kalteyer's  drug  store  about  completed 1872 

First  passenger  and  mail  train  goes  out  to  Floresville 1886 

8 

Umbrella  China  Trees  are  introduce<l  by  Mr.  C.  I,.  Lege,  Senior.  He  pL-mts  two  on 
North  Flores  street  as  an  experiment.  Nearly  all  San  Antonio  I'lnbrella  Cliin:i 
trees  have  been  propagated  from  these  two  (are  still  standing.  iSgo) 1863 

The  German  English  School  has  265  pupils 1870 

9 

We  have  a  pretty  cold  spell,  but  the  thermometer  reads  11°  above  Zero 1886 

10 

General  Winfield  Scott  Hancock  is  received  at  the  Post 1884 

11 

Wild  Turkeys  are  so  plentiful  in  the  market  as  to  be  a  drug  at  15  and  20  cents  a  piece.  187 8 
We  get  a  small  snowstorm 1886 

12 

La  Salle  still  in  Texas.     See  March  30 1687 

Sunset  Road  makes  connection   with   the  Southern   Pacific.  247   miles  West  of  San 

Antonio.  400  miles  Kast  of  fc;i  Paso.     A  silver  spike  is  driven  at  the  meeting  .    .       1883 

13 

Sam  Houston  is  mentioned  for  President  of  the  Lnited  states 1860 

14 

Act  of  Incorjxiration  of  the  City  of  San   Antonio  (5tli  document) .  1842 

•Tncle  Billy"  Lytle  an  ol.l  Texan   veteran  tlies 1878 

15 

Two  men  in  a  boat  are  de.scemling  the  San  .Xntonio   River  to  the  .sea.      They   started 

on  January    i;,th 1886 

16 

Haas  \  ( )ppenlieimer's  Store  begun  on  Main  Si 1883 

17 

Moses  Austin  obtains  llu'  liist  rolouisl  I'.uiprcsario  grants 1821 

The  Casino  on  Market  St.  opent<l  Willi   a  C.irman  perforniiince 1858 

Contract  is  lei  for  llu-  .■ompUlion  of  the  Court  House  on   Soleda.l   St 1883 

18 

Wolfson  buys  the  "White   I'.lephaul".  1886 


Till-:    MONTH   Ol'   jANTARV.  131 

19 

OeiUTal  R(.l)<.Tt  ]■'..  l,in-"s  Inrllulay 1806 

20 

iMi-st  issiK-  ol"  Uk-  '•I'Afiiin,!^    I-i.ulU"  ( lontinualioii   of  IIk-  "Surprise.      See  April  ;,r(l )      1881 

21 

Hen  Thcnnpson  is  acciuillcdhv  tlie  Jury  of  mur.lrr,  ill  Uk-  District  Court 1883 

I'irsl  -roniul  Krokeii  for  tile  laying  of  Mescpiite   blocks  on    Alamo    I'la/.a 1889 

22 

First  stone  street  crossiii;j:s  are  made 1878 

23 

The  wet    weather   interrupts   for   some   weeks  the    laying  of  Mesquite   Blocks  and  the 

improvements  on  Alamo  Plaza 1889 

24 

An  Act  tt)  incori)orate  the   City   of  San   Antonio   was    voted  upon  and  rejected  by  the 

people  (sixth  document) 1852 

25 

BufTalo  hides  and  meat  from   the  frontier.      uSee  May  24) 1877 

The  "Military  Headquarters"  now  the  Maverick  Hotel,  are  completed 1878 

26  ' 

Supplementary  Act  to  act  of  Incorpcn-ation  of  San  Antonio  (fourth  ducnment)  1839 

27 

The  building  of  vSt.  Mark's   Ivpiscopal  Church  is  completed.     uSee  April  25th)  .    .    .    -1875 

28 

Foundation  of  San  Antonio  Water  Works   ])Uiiii)  house  made 1878 

29 

The  first  Railroad  train  crosses  the  Hra/.os  on  the  Texas  and   Central    Road 1861 

A  County  election  for  the  Pierce  Railroad  subsidy  of  $300,000.  County  vote  polled 
2694.  Vote  required  2636.  58  Majority.  This  vote  procured  the  Sunset  Road  for 
San    Antonio 1876 

30 

The  Alamo  I,ilerar\    Society    adojits  a   i)laii    for   a    Hall  to  be  erected  on  the  larije  lot 

s^iven  by  Mr.  S.  A.  Maverick  for  that  purpo.se  on  Houston  St 1872 

This  Hall  was  never  finished,  it  was  afterwards  used  as  a  wholesale  commi.s.sion  store 
and  was  burned  out.  In  the  meanwhile  it  was  transferred  to  J.  H.  Kampnian. 
P'our  handsome  stores  were  erected  on  this   lot  in  March.   1S90 

31 

The  Menger  Hotel  is  hospitably  opened 1859 

Judge  Noonan's  special  court  is  dispersed  by  Kickapoo  Indians  at  I'valde  1869 

Quartermaster's  depot  buildings  at  the  Post  are  completed 1878 

Callaghan  is  first  elected  Mayor  of  San   Antonio 1885 


132 


SAX   AXTONIO   1)1"    BKXAR. 


FEBRUARY. 


' « — i^^5^^  ' 


Santa  Anna  starts  from  Saltillo  with  six  thousand  men  to   invade  Te; 
l-"irsl  Ivns/lisli  Cricket  Club  established 


1836 
1873 


Travis  in  San  Antonio 1836 

First  R.  R.  train  eomes  from   vSan    l''rancisco  to   San  Antonio  on  the  Southern  I'acitic 

Route.      (See   l'"el)ruary  6i 1883 

3 

Alteration    to    "Headquarters"    building   otherwise    Maverick    Hotel    begun.        (See 

September  15,  1877  and   April    11,    1SS3.) 1882 


C.  Iv'mendorf,  a  prominent  New  Braunfels  immigrant  of  '44  dies  in  vSan  .\ntonio         1878 
Very  cold   and   very   slippery   with   ice.     Telephone  wires  and   trees  break  with  the 

burden  of  ice  caused  by  the  wet  norther  from  the  4th  to  the  6th 1883 


5 

Mr.  Morton  introduces  a  bill   into  the   vSenate  to  constitute  San    Antonio  a  "I'ort  ot 

Delivery"      1868 

I'irst  R.  R.  train  leaves  San  Antonio  with   I'.  S.  Oflicers  as  pas.sengers  for  New  York 

on  the  Sun.set  or  G.  H.  &  S.  A.  R.  R 1877 

]■-.  H.  Terrell.  I'.  vS.   minister  to  Helguim  (18901  is  noniinate<l  for  Mayor  of  vS.  .\.  but 

Callaghan  is  elected  on  b'ebruary  14th 1887 

6 

Texas  volunteers  elect  John    S.  b'or.l,  iCol.  Rij).  1  Ivdward    Hurleson  and  V.  L.  raschal 

asolllcers 1858 

I'irst  Water  Works  Mains  are  laid   on  . Avenue  C,  in       1878 

Military  Headtpiarters  are  m()ve<l  to  the  buuilding  now  the  Maverick  Hotel  on  Houston 

Street 1878 

I'irst   through    freight    train    on  Southern    I'acilic    R.    R.    ])asses  San  .\ntonio   on   the 

way  to  New  Orleans 1883 

"'Uncle  Jack"  lA-slie.  Texas  veteran,  dies  1885 


'I'llI'    MOXTII    ()!•    I'l-l'.RrARV.  13:J 

7 

I'irst  frfi^lit  Hain  oil  Railioad  c-onslnulioii  work  arrives  al  San  Aiilonio  depot  uSmisc-t  .1877 
James   P.  Newroinh  ai)i)oinle(l    rostniasler 1883 

8 

\  reniarkal)le  i)oHlical  illustration  i)nl>lislie.l  in  the  S.  A.   Ivxpress,  drawn  by  an  Artist 

Iwonski 1868 

Haneiuct  .t,nvi'n  in  honor  ol"  25tli  anniversarxof  lire  ronipauy  No.   I 1883 

9 

First  appearance  i)f  Lawrence    Harrett   in   San  Antonio 1883 

10 

I'irst  Jail    C.nard  House  and  Militar\-  Onarters  erected  under  Haron  Kii)i)erda   on   the 

Military  riaza  (old  document  in  County  records) 1773 

Mexican  Royalists  are  defeated  at  Ctoliad   and  return    to  San    Antonio    ...         .    .    -1813 
J.  D.  Logan,  the  founder  of  the  fust  daily  ])aper  in  Texas,   "San  Antonio  Herald"  diesl878 

Maverick  Ranch  fence,  on  l?an<lera  Road,  cut 1885 

Frank  Scott  sent  to  the  Penitentiary  for  life   for  the  murder  of  Prank  Harris,  this  is 

one  of  the  final  chapters  in  the  fri.yhtfnl  Robber  Cave  incidents 1887 

11 

Carl  Sehurz  lectures  at  the  Casino 1885 

12 

Joseph  Jefferson   savs  he   will    not  come  to  San  Antonio  because  there  is  no  Railway. 

(See.   April    nth,    iSSSi 1872 

13 

Supplementary  act  to  supt.  act  to  San  .\ntonio  and  [Mexican  ( '.nlf  Kailroa<l  ajiproved  .  1854 

14 

Supplementary  act  to  San  Antonio  and  Mi'xican  C.nlf  Railroad  enacted 1852 

15 

Sunset  Road  really  reaches  San   Antonio,  i.    e.    first    freiL,'ht  for  business  men  received 

this  day.     J.  H.  Kamptnann  receiving  a  carload  of  lumber 1877 

Two  new  bridges  on  Navarro  Street  tested 1879 

16 

Annexation   of   Texas  to  the  I'nited  States  consummated ,  .    .   1846 

Cxovernment  projjcrty  surrendered  by  Ceneral  Twiggs  at  San  .\ntonioto  the  Secession 

Convention  Commissioners 1860 

The  old  Conception  Ditch  abandoned  on  Pagalda  Street  and  the  Mill  Dam  subse- 
quently lowered •1869 

Resolution  adopted  in  the  City  Council  to  donate  forty  acres  to  the  C-eneral  Covern- 
ment  for  armv  purposes  in  the  eastern  ])ortion  of  the  City,  on  the  site  ot  the 
Government  corral,  near  the  present  site  of  the  Post 1870 

International  Railroad  arrives  at  last.      First  passenger  trains  arrive  and  depart  .    .    .   1881 


134  vSAX  AXTOXIO  DK  ]5I-:XAR. 

17 

Hand  of  Lipan  Indians  only  nine  mik-s  from  San  Antonio,  on  the  Castroville  Road, 
trv  to  stampede  a  l)unch  of  nuiles  in  charj^e  of  a  Mexican  who  holds  on  to  the 
bell  mule.     The    Indians   fail   and  shoot  a  mare  with   arrows,    the  arrows   were 

afterwards  gathered  by  Mr.   Froboe.se  and  handed  to  (ien.    Carleton 1870 

Government  takes  possession   of  the  Mexican  Culf  Railroad 1870 

Kdwin  booth,   the  actor,   here  attain 1888 

18 

Dr.  J.  II.  bernard,  one  of  Fannin's  men,  who  was  spared  at  the  Goliad  mas.sacre,  be- 
cause of  his  necessity  to  the  Mexican  wounded,  revisits  San  Antonio  and  finds 
"all  the  old    landmarks   vanishing" 1860 

19 

:\Iajor  James  LouK^treet  in  vSan  Antonio  on   liis   way  ICast  "to  the  states" 1858 

Torch  light  proces.sion,  S.ooo  strong,  in  honor  of  the  arrival  of  the  Sunset,  first  Rail- 
road  for  San  Antonio 1877 

Paul  Wagner  begins  his  new  store  on  Commerce  vStreet 1879 

San  Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Engineers  make  one  more  start  for  the  Gulf 1885 

20 

Supt.  act  to  supt.  act  to  supt.  act  of  S.   A.    ^:   .Mexican  Gulf  Railroad 1856 

Indians  kill  a  woman  and  children  in  Bandera  County 1870 

Contract  let  for  Hexar  County  new  jail.     Work  begun   I-'ebruary  27th 1878 

21 

Colonel   Robert   Iv.    Lee,    Lieutenant  Colonel   of  2nd   regiment   of  cavalry   arrives  at 

San  Antonio  to  take  charge  of  the   Department  of  Texas 1860 

Honore  Grenet  dies 1882 

Marshall  Hal.  (iosling  shot  and  instantly  killed  on  the  train  at  New  Braunfels  by 
Pitts  and  Yeager.  Pitts  and  Mrs.  Downes  are  killed.  Rosa  Yeager  and  Charles 
Yeager  are  wounded.  Yeager  jumps  with  Pitts  from  the  train,  train  going  at 
forty  miles  an  hour,  Yeager  mashes  with  a  stone  Pitts'  dead  hand  and  escapes. 
Deputy  Marshall  Manning,  who  had  made  a  brave  fight  almost  alone,  is  wounded 
in  five  places 1885 

22 

Santa  -Xnna's  advanced  troops  arrive  in  San  .Vntonio 1836 

Travis  retires  with  150  men  to  the  Alamo 1836 

J.  S.  Friend  advertises  for  two  children  stolen  l)y  Indians  in  Llano  County 1868 

A  meeting  called  to  consider  the  advisability  of  petitioning  L.  S.  Congress  to  divixJe 

Texas  into  two  States,  Fast  and  West  Texas 1868 

Yeager  is  captured  after  an  cxiiting  trail       1885 

23 

Large  excursion  trains  are  now  constantly  coming  in  from  New  I'.ngland  on^tileir  wav 

^Vest :  .  .  .  \  .  .  .".  1887 

24 

The  Texans  in  the  .Mam'o  .ire  summoned  by  Santa   .\nna  to  s\irrcnder,  he  is  answered 

by   a  cannon   shot 1836 

Aflams  an«l  Wicks'  wagon  master  is  killed  by  tlu-   Indians  near  I-'ort  Ma.son 1870 

The  County  witlnlraws  from  the  agreement  to   build  a  joint  City  and  Conntv  Hall  .    .  J  888 


Till-    MOXTH   ()1<    MARCH.  1 :}."') 

25 

The  Diviss  l)uil(lin- oil  Alamo    ria/.:i    is    C()iii])lrUMl 1878 

^arali  Ik-rnhardl  passfs  Uii-ou.uli  on   lic-r  w  ay  Ivast   from   Mexico 1887 

26 

Clock  tower  on  Ihf  Convent  ercctc.i 1868 

First  Odd  l-ellows"  Hall  on   Houston  Street  dedicated.     (Rebuilt  1889-90) 1878 

Work  on  San  Antonio's  first  vStrcct  Railroad  begun  to-day  from  San  Pedro  Sprinj^s  to 

corner   of  Alamo    IMa/.a 1878 

27 

Yoakum,  in  liis  History  of  Texas,  says,  funeral  honors  were  accorded  the  ashes  of 
the  heroes  of  the  Alamo.  "The  dead  liad  been  burnt  in  three  ])iles.  The  ashes 
were   collected  and  pbiced  in  a  neat  black  coffin,  and  interred  byjuan  Setjuin  by 

order  of  the  General  in  Chief." 1837 

Turner  Hall  on  Houston  Street  is  bcKun 1879 

l-:d\\in  Booth  at  the  ()i)era  House 1887 

28 

Colonel  R.  K.  Lee  is  ordered  to  follow  Cortinas  into  Mexico   if  necessary 1860 

It  is  decided  to  enlarge  the  Casino 1877 

29 

Corner  stone  of  the  first   Presbyterian  Church  (corner  of  Plores  and  Houston  vStreets) 

is    laid    with    much    religious   ceremony 1860 

A  committee  on  Public  Improvements   reports   favoralily  on    the  planting  of  trees    in 

Main   Plaza 1870 


M  ARCH. 


1 

Texas  Annexation   Bill  signed  by  V.  S.  President  Tyler 1845 

Marshal  Hal.  Go.sling  receives  the   reward   of  -i^llT.SO  for  the  capture  of  Polk,  the  ab- 
sconding  Tennessee  treasurer 1883 


l;]t;  SAX   AXTOXIO  DI-:  ]U-:XAR. 

2 

Sam    Houslon    horn 1793 

Roya'.ists  defeated  here.      1-ourteeu  Royalist  olficers  killed  and  the  Republicans  enter 

San  Antonio 1813 

Declaration  of  Texan   Independence 1836 

Capt.  J.  W.  Smith  arrives  at  the  Alamo  with  thirty  men   from  Con/.ales 1836 

Moody  and  Sankey  here 1886 

3 

Col.  Travis  'draws  the  line"  in  the  Alamo 1836 

Bonham  returns  to  the  Alamo,  having  been  sent  out  with  a   last  express  message  to 

Fannin 1836 

I'itzhugh  Lee  lectures  at  the  Casino  on  the  Battle  of  Chancellorsville 1883 

The  old  "Jack  Harris"  and  "\'audeville"  corner  is  burnt  out 1886 

4 

Siege  of  the   Alamo 1836 

Amendments  to  the  City  Charter  (twelfth  document) 1885 

5 

Foundation  of  the  Concepcion  ^Mission 1731 

It   is  completed 1752 

Mission  of  vSan  Jose  completed 1731 

San  Juan  and    I^spada  Missions  begun 1731 

First  district  court  held  at  the  Xew  Court  House  on  Soledad  street 1883 

6 

Fall  of  the  Alamo,   vSunday  morning 1836 

Death  of  Travis,       \ 

Bowie,  anil  about  17<l  others. 

Crockett,  \ 

7 
Vasquez,  with  TOO  Mexicans,  lakes  possession  of  San  Antonio.     Shew  of  aulhorily  on 

the   part  of  Mexico 1842 

I,.  Uhjazzi,  a  Hungarian  patriot  of  Kossuth's  party,  shoots  himself  here  at  the   age   of 

almost  SO  years       1870 

8 

Wolfson  makes  additions  to  his  store 1880  ^<»<^  1883 

The  Government  accepts  a  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  new   I'ederal   Building  and 

I'ost  Office 1888 

9 

i"ir.-t  fight  at  the  .Mission  Refugio  (sec  March  10  and  11  1 1836 

The  Mexicans  un<ler  Vastjue/  retire  from  San  .Vnloiiio  after  two  days'  occupation  .    .    .  1842 

10 

Retreat  of  Houston   from  Gonzales 1836 

Second  battle  of  Mission  Refugio,  Mexicans  worsted  (.see  March    111 1836 

11 

Retreat    from   Refugio 1836 

Gener.il  Sherman   in   San    .\nlonio 1882 

Ben  'l"hom])son  and  King  iMsher  shot   and    killed   at    \aude\ille  theatre,  .Joe    l"or&ter 

woumled  in  the  same  scra]ie 1884 

J.  T.   Raymond  at  the  Opera  House 1887 


Tin-     MONTH    Ol'    MARCH.  1'^" 

12 

Groos'  Hank    ami    Store  bejiiui 1879 

13 

LaSalle  killf.l  by  liis  men   isee   March  :'.(h ^ 1687 

Firsl  telephone  wire  erected  in  San  Antonio  from  City  office    of  Water   Works   to   tin 

office    at    the  head    of  the    River 1878 

The  buildinj;  of  Alameda  l)l<)ck    bej^nm •  1882 

14 

Phil.  Sheridan  is  here  again,      l-'rom  I.aredo  ibis  time 1883 

15 

(k)vernor  Davis  is  i^iven  a    reception  at  the  .Men>,^er    Hotel 1870 

16 

Population  of  San  Antonio  is  e.stimated  to  be  between  ten  and   twelve   thousand  1860 

U.  Lt)tt  elected  President  of  the  S.  A.  &  A.  P.  R.  R 1885 

T.  J.  Devine,  a  much  respected  old  citizen  of  San  Antonio,  having  occupied  many 
high  public  offices,  came  to  San  Antonio  in  1S4.".,  identified  with  nearly  all  the 
best  interests  of  the  city,  dies  at  the  age -if  7S 1890 

17 

Rattle  of  Coleta  Creek,  where  the  Texans  under  Fannin  gain  the  advantage 1836 

Rig  overflow  of  the  river.      A  man  named  Taniienberg  is  drowned  on  Commerce  Street 

bridge.      T  .vo  children  of  Mr.  Staarke  are  drowned  the  same  day 1865 

John  Twohig  lays  the   foundation  stone  of  his  wall  on    St.  Mary's  Street 1869 

18 

I'anmn  surrenders  to  Urea  at  Coleta  Creek 1836 

19 

Telephone  sy.stem  is  about  to  be  established 1881 

20 

A  bloody  battle  with  Comanche  Indians  on  the  Main  and  Military  Plazas;  :;7  Indians 
killed,  7  whites  killed.  :Mrs.  M.  A.  .Maverick  was  an  eye  witness  of  this  battle 
froma  place  of  vantage  in  the  original  Maverick  Home  at  the  corner  ol  Mam 
vStreet  and  Soledad  Street .  ,         .'       1840 

A  party  on  an  outing  start  from  the  Head  of  the  River  in  a  boat,  after  many  diflicnlties 

arrive  in  the  city   by  nightfall 1870 

A  similar  feat  was  performed  by  John  and  Joseph   Weber  i see  January  15,  'Htii  ...       1858 

21 

Xolan  is  defeated  and  killed  by  Mexicans 1801 

22 

Josh   Hillings  is  in  San  Antonio 1878 

Joe  Forster  dies  of  a  wt)un(l  received  in  the  Vaudeville  shooting  scrape  of  March  lltli  1884 


18.S  SAN  AXTOXIO   DlC  BKXAR. 

23 

No.  1  of  the  Weekly  vSan  Antonio    Herald  appears 1854 

No.  1  of  the  Daily  San  Antonio  Herald,  the  oldest  Texas  daily  newspaper,  appears         1857 
Confederate  Tannery  was  turned  over  to  tlie  "  Freedman's  Bureau" 1866 

24 

The  INIier  prisoners  are  decimated  by  order  of  Santa  Anna,  17  are  shot   upon   drawing 

black  beans  at  the  Hacienda    Salado,    Mexico 1843 

25 

General  Grant  and  partv  arrive  here  and  gel  a  grand   reception.     He  stays  here    four 

days 1880 

Mrs.  Andrea  Castanon  de  Villanueva,  alias  Candelaria,  petitions  for  a  pension  as  being 

the  last  survivor  ot  the  Fall  of  the  Alamo 1889 

26 

First  Public  Meeting  (of  what  proved  to  be  a  very  bitter  campaign)  of  the  Prohibition- 
ists at   Turner  Hall 1887 

27 

The  l-'annin  Massacre,  330  men  are  shot  by  the  order  of  Santa  Anna  at   Goliad  .  1836 

No.  1,  of  Vol.  4,  of  San  Antonio  Weekly  Herald  is  issued 1858 

The  Flores  Street  Street  Railroad  is  completed 1884 

The  work  of  paving  the  Alamo  Plaza  with  niesquite  blocks  is  begun  in  earnest  ...  1889 

28 

Battle  of  Salado.  after  the  death  of  Magee,  the  Americans  under  Kemper  and  Mexican 
Republicans  under  Menchaca,  ( "Rebels")  with  some  Indian  bands,  are  victorious 
over  the  San  Antonio  Royalist  troops  under  the  officers  in  the  command  of  Gov- 
ernor Salcedo 1813 

29 

A  band  of  squaws  and  a  notorious  hostile  Indian  buck,  Ca.stalito,  are   in  town,  brought 

in  by  Mackenzie 1873 

Some  skeletons  are  unearthed  in  the  Alamo  Cliurch    Building 1878 

30 

La  vSalle  murdered  by  one  of  his  own  men  near  the   Neches   River 1687 

Total  miles  of  Railroad  graded  on  all  lines  in  Texas 2o7  miles  )     -g  oko 

Total  miles  of  Iron  laid  <m  this 132  miles  t     *o«o 

K.  H.  Terrell  is  appointed  Minister  to    Belgium 1889 

31 

Incident  in  the  "Magee  Hxpedition"  see  March  28):  Governor  Salcedo,  (Governor 
Herrera  of  New  Leon,  Ex-Governor  Cordero  and  twelve  officers  of  the  defeated 
Royalist  troops  are  murdered  a  few  miles  from  San  Antonio  in  revenge  by  the  .son 
of  Colonel  Delgado  and  others.  Kemix-r  and  the  .\niericans  leave  disgusted  at 
this  barbarity 1813 


Ill',    MONTH   OI"   APRIL 


i:;'.> 


APRIL. 


I'irst  case  of  cholera  in  tlie    great   epuleiiiic  i  last  case  June   10th) 1849 

Adolph  Korn,  a  boy,  stolen  by  Indians  in  Llano  Ct).,  on  Jan.  1st,  is  now  advertised  for  1870 


The  .Mavericks  sell   Fort  Clark   for  $HO.(l(l(l 1884 

])r.  Carver  is  beaten   by  Penrose  at  San  Pedro  Springs    in  a  shooting  contest 1885 


First   issue   of  San    Antonio   Light,      "b'.vening    Light'"   from  January  20,  1881.     (See 

January   20,  1881.) 1883 

.\niendnients  to  the  City  Charter  enacted   })y  the  legislature       1889 


Federal  Court  chooses  rooms  in   the  French  building.  Main  Plaza,  for  Court  Room  .    .  1879 

R.  A.  Procter  lectures  at  the  Casino 1885 

Water  carts  iirst  used  for  street  sprinkling 1878 


John   Chinaman    is  here 1875 

Janic>  F>urns.  well  known   citizen,  dies  of  a  rattlesnake's  bite 1883 

6 

President  Bustamente   prohibits  Americans  entering  Texas 1830 

John  L.  Sullivan  gives  an  exhibition   at  the  Turner  Hall 1884 

Col.  Frank  W.  Johnson,  one  of  the  most  famous  Texas  veterans.  President  of  the 
Texas  Veteran  Association  since  its  inauguration,  second  in  command  under 
Milam  and  who  assumed  command  at  the  death  of  Milam  at  the  storming  of  San 
.Antonio,    dies    at    .\gua  Calientes,    Mexico 1884 


Mexican  troops  are  stationed  at  San  Antonio  to  check  American  influence 1830 

General    Sheridan,  "W.  W.  Belknap  secretary  of  war,  and  General  Myers  are  tendered 

a  big  reception  at  vSan  Pedro  Springs,   and  ''  wined  and  dined  "  at  the  Menger  .    .  1873 


140  SAX  XATOXIO  DE  HIvXAR. 

8 

St.  Mark's  parsonaj^e  was  hegun 1884 

Helkiiap  and  San  Antonio  Rifles  are  ordered  oul  t<>  (|ut-ll  disturbances  at  Laredo.  Texas  .  1S86 

First  League  base  ball  game  played  in  San  .Xnloiiio 1888 

Dr.  I'".  Herff,  Senior,  permanently  settled   in  San  Antonio  abnut  this  date,      i  Dr.  Herif 

came  first  to  Texas  the  end  of  Aj)ril,  ls^7.  .  .  1850 

9 

A  band  of  73  Indians  arrive  under  government  escort  on  their  way  to  I'ort  Mason,  Flor- 
ida.    (This  is  not  the  Geronimo  and  Natchez   band.) 1886 

10 

Thf  .\ venue  C  extension  of  the  street  car  line  is  begun 1880 

11 

A  mass  meeting  is  called  in  San  Antonio  to  devise  means  for  removing  the  Kickapoo 

Indians  from  the  Texan  and  Mexican  frontier 1868 

Rear  enlargement  of  the  Maverick  Hotel  begun.   (See  also  Sept.  lo.  "77,  and  Feb.  :>,  "S2.  '1883 
Joseph  Jefferson  plays  Rip  \'an  Winkle  at  the  opera   house 1888 

12 

F'irst   Baptist   Church  begun 1873 

13 

French  Building  is  constituted  the  County  Court  House 1868 

The  sixteenth  saengerfest  is  liegun  to  be  held  here 1887 

14 

Tom  Green  dies  in   the   Confederate   war  of  a  wound 1864 

A  fight  is  arranged  just  outside  the  city  limits,  at  the  old  Fair  grounds,  between  a  bull 

and  a  lion   and  a  lioness.     The  bull  gets  much  the  best  of  it 1878 

Bishop  Pellicer,  first  Bishop  of  San   .Antonio,   dies 1880 

15 

A  home  market  for  wool  is  established,  first  wool  bought  and  warehoused  here  .  1859 

Ca])t.  King,  the  great  cattleman  and  land  owner,  dies  in 1885 

16 

I'riah  I<ott  is  in  San  .\nlonio,  talking  about   narrow  gauge   railroads 1880 

17 

The  corner  stone  of  the  additional  inlirniary  at  Santa  Rosa   Hospital  is  laid 1884 

Belknap  Rifles  go  to   Xew    York 1889 

18 

AnK-ndnienls  to  certain  sections  made  to  the  city  charter  of  San  Antonio  iiy  the  Six- 
teenth Legislature  ( 11th  document^ 1879 

A  Mexican  named  Martinez,  suspected  of  horse  theft,   was  hange<l  by  vigilantes  near 

the  Medina,      .\fter  hanging  six  hours  he  was  cut  down  by  friends  ami  he  recovered  .  1882 


Till-    MONTH  Ol-    APRIL.  141 

19 

Session  of  (uand  I.odK^  of  KiukIUs  of  I'ylhias  in  San  Antonio,  with  i<ran(l  procession      1887 

20 

Paris,  Texas,  gains  tlie  first  prize  (or  the  best  drilled  uniform  divisit>n  of  the  Knights  of 

Pythias 1887 

21 

Battle  of  San  Jacinto.  "  Remember  the  Alamo."  "  Remember  Goliad."  The  Mexi- 
cans under  Santa  .\nna  are  routed 1836 

First  San  Antonio  Baseball  Club  organized.  J.  S.  Lockwood,  president  ;  Russell  Nor- 
ton, secretary 1867 

First  Railroad  shipment  of  cotton  into  San   Antonio  by   B.    Oppenheimer 1877 

22 

Santa  .Anna  is  captured  on  the  prairies  and  brought  to  the  Texan  camp 1836 

23 

The  first  market  house,  hitherto  known  as  the  principal   Cuartel.  is  established  by  the 

city 1840 

The  .\lamo  church  building  is  bought  by    the  State   under  an    Act   of  April   2;^,    for 

$20,000,   from  the  Catholic  church  authorities.     (See   May   16.) 1883 

Indians  at  Boerne 1870 

Moody  and  Saukey   in   town 1880 

24 

Losoya  street  is  opened  to  intersect  Commerce  street 1872 

Dick  Lombard  attacks  Billy  vSims  with  a  six-.shooter  at  the  Vaudeville 1884 

25 

One  hundred  and  fifty-six  Tonkaways  leave  for  the  mountains  forty  miles  north  under 

charge  of  the  United  States  Government 1866 

vSt.  Mark's  Epi.scopal  Cathedral  Church  is  consecrated 1881 

26 

Myriads  of  gra.sshoppers  are  seen  overhead   Hying  in  a  northwesterly  direction  .    .    .    -1858 
The  German  Flnglish  school  is  enlarged  to  accommodate  500  pupils  about  this  date  .    .1870 

Terrible  Indian  outrage  at  Howard's  Springs 1872 

Odd  Fellows  Hall  on  Houston  street  dedicated.     (Since  rebuilt  1889-90.) 1878 

27 

Dr.  Cupples  arrives  in  San  .\ntonio 1844 

Bexar  County  Court  Hou.se  rebuilt  on  Soledad  street 1882 

Susan  J.  Hannig  (widow  of  lieutenant  Al.  Marion  Dickinson,  who  was  killed  in  the 
Alamo)  revisits  the  Alamo  with  H.  B.  Andrews,  Bishop  Quintard  of  Tennessee,  and 
some  early  Texan  friends.  She  and  her  daughter  were  the  sole  white  survivors 
of  the    fall    of  the   Alamo 1881 

28 

General  Twiggs  is  unjustly  court-martialed 1858 

Cornerstone  of  Bexar  County  Jail  laid 1878 


14-2  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BKXAR. 

29 

The  old  central  dome  of  Sau  Fernando  Cathedral  is  demolished  1872 

The  Maverick  Hotel  just  opened 1882 

The   Odd  Fellows  Cemetery  dedicated 1883 

General  Schofield  visits  San  Antonio 1885 

30 

Edward  Miles  and  Antonio  Menchaca,  two  v(.^r_v  wt-ll  known  "old  San  Jacinto  heroes." 

were  in  town  at  this  date 1873 

The  Taxpayers  vote  $150  000  for  the  new  City   Hall  and  other  improvements  1887 


MAY. 


The  removal  of  the  Alamo  Mission  "  San  Jose  del  Alamo  "  is  ordered  l)y  the  Marquis 
Valero,  viceroy  of  New  Spain,  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  its  present  site,  and 
named  "San  Antonio  de  Valero."  (This  Mi.ssion  was  originally  founded  on  the 
Rio  Grande    in   1708.) 1718 


Guenther's  second  or   upper   mill    hej^un .    .  1868 

Major  Wa.s.son  "loses"  $24,000.  for  which  on  the  Sth  he  is  charged  with  embezzlement  1883 

San  Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Depot  located 1885 

Chapel  at  the  Concepcion  Mis.sion,  as  repaired,   is  rededicated  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes 

by  Bishop  Neraz 1887 


A  voung  bull  buffalo  is  run   down   through   Commerce   street  by  a   cowboy   horseman 


from    the   1>1: 


1869 


Mexican  (rulf  Railroad  compromise  bonds  signed   by   the  County   Clerk 


1882 


Maverick  Hank  l)uilding,  corner  of  Alamo  IMa/a  an<l    Houston  Street,  is  begun  .  1884 


THIv    MONTH   ()!•    MAY 


14;: 


6 

\V.  W  .   llclkn;q),  Srciclar\   (.IW'ar,  (>r<kTs  work  on  llic  ( ■roVLiiiiiK'iit  Military  l)ei»(>U<) 

he  heKun,   and   directs  tliat  tlu-  a])i)ropriati(Hi   be  applied  for 1875 

The  (irenet  Alamo  property  is  sold  for  $40,200  to  Hugo  &  vSchmelt/.er.     (This  jirop- 

erty   was  condemned  by  the  City  Council  on  the  same  date  1880.) 1884 


(General  Worth  dicii  at  the  James  residence  on  Commerce  vStreet.        His  remains  were 
taken  lo  (ireenwood  Cemetery,  thence  to  New    York.      His  monument  is    promi- 


nent on    Madison   Sciuare,    New    \'ork. 
Corner  stone  of  (iroos  Hank   huildin.L;    lai<l 


1849 
1879 


8 

The  foundation  stone  of  the   Alamo   Mission  Church  laid 

Death  of  1'".  P.  Crirand       .  

Right  Rev.  J.  C.  Nera/.  consecrated   second  hisho])  of  vSan  Antonio 
General  Stanley,  new   Department  Commaiuler,   arrives  here       .    . 


1744 

1877 
1881 
1884 


9 

Colonel  Reeves  surrenders  with  olS  .soldiers  to  Van  Dorn,  vSan  Antoni 

Organization  of  a  Jockey  Clnh 

Victor  Considerant,   returns  to  I'rance 


1861 

1868 
1868 


10 

The  City  Government  moves  to  the  French  building  t)n  Main  I'la/ 
Terrell   Block,    I're.sidio  vStreet,    begun 


1879 
1881 


11 

The  earliest  agitation  for  Water  Works  begins  about  now 
San  Antonio   vStreet   Railroad   Company  is  inaugurated  , 


1870 
1874 


12 

Ca])tainJ.  ,S.  h'ord  engages  in  a   fierce  hght  with   Indians   on   Canadian    River,    New- 
Mexico.      (Colonel    ••Rip"    again,  l 1858 

13 

The   lirst   foundation    stone    of   San   h^ernando  Church,   between   Main  and    Military 
Plazas,  was  laid.     (It  was  rebuilt   and  reopened   with   much   ceremony  October 

6,   1873.) 1734 

h'lrst  marriage  of  Americans  in  San  .\ntonio,  !•'.  L.  Paschal  to  Miss  l'\  Roach  of  South 

Carolina 1844 

14 

Potter  and  McDaniels  receive  a  life  sentence   for   murder  and  mail  robberies,  I'ederal 

Court.      (See  June  5  and  July    1.) 1885 


15 

New  Braunfels  is  founded  by  Prince  Solms  and  a  number  of  (ierman  families  .        .    .  1845 
Van  Dorn  has  another  great  Hght   with   Indians  on   the  Wichita  expedition  in  wliich 
fifty    Indians    are   killed.       I"it/-Hugh     I.ee   was    rejicn-ted    mortally    wounded    in 
this  fight 1859 


144  SAN  AXTOXK)   Dl':   HKXAR. 

16 

Military  telegraph  completed   to  San    Anlonio 1876 

Tlie  sale  of  the  Alamo  Church  is  tinally  consummated  at  Austin  for  |2C),ooo.  (Ne- 
gotiations had  been  pending  since  February   18,   1888,  when  the  committee  of  the 

Legislature  decided   to  report  favorably  to  buy.     See  April  23rd.) 1883 

Much  building  going  on  at  this  date  in  San  Antonio.  Stumberg's,  Winslow's,  and 
Kampmann's  (opposite  the  Maverick  Hotel),  and  other  new  blocks  of  stores  go- 
ing up  on  Houston  Street.  Real  estate  transactions  have  been  very  active  this 
spring 189U 

17 

Important  meeting  in  relation  to  Columbus  and  San  Antonio   Railroad 1867 

Ignatius  Coyle  smashes  the  image  of  Saint  Theresa  at  Alamo  Church  and  is  arrested 

by  Captain  Tcmi    Rife 1887 

18 

Five  Indians  attack  a  camp  six   miles  from    Baiulera 1867 

F'irsl  ground  broken  for  San  Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Railroad 1885 

The  Garza  Block,  an  historic  corner,    sold  for  SHI, 800 1889 

19 

Terrible  hailstorm  or  shower  of  ice  ;  pieces  weighing  2 '2  pounds  fall,  .loing  upwards 
of  $100,000  worth  of  damage  in  the  city  aiul  neighborhood,  besides  ruining 
crops 1868 

Belknap  Rifles  get  second  prize  for  company  drill  at  Austin.     San  Antonio  Rifles  get 

fifth  prize.     Captain  Badger,  San  Antonio  Rifles,  gets  first  prize  for  best  captain     1888 

20 

D'Alarconne,  Spanish  Governor  of  Texas,  writes  to  De  la  Harpe,  French  Repre- 
sentative, claiming  all  the  lands  \Ve.st  of  the  Nassonites.     (See  July  8th.)  .  1719 

Vaccination  made  compulsory  by  order  of  the  King  of  Spain.      (County  Records,  old 

document.) 1804 

21 

A  band  of  thirty-.seven   Digger  Indians   in  town   on   their  way   to   their    reservation 

Nome  Lackwa 185S 

22 

A  .sea-gull  was  found  on  the  Arsenal  grounds,  sujjjxjsed  to  have  been  killed  by  hail  on 

the  19th 1868 

San  Antonio   Rifles  organized 1884 

23 

.\n  election  held  to  decide  if  l)onds  for  $50, ocKj  shall  be  issued  for  additional  school 
buildings  and  other  facilities  for  education,  the  income  of  permanent  fund  to  go 
to  the  sinking  fund  of  bonds.      'I'lic  iJroiiosiliou  is  carried  by   a  majority  of  ;,2g  1885 

24 

Dry  Buff'alo  meat,  "just  from  the  plains,"  is  on  sale  in  San  Antonio.      (Seejan.  25tli.  >      1874 

25 

I'irst  Mass  said  at  Mission  San   I'rancisco  on    Ihe   coast  .  1690 


Till';    MONTH   Ol'    MAY.  14.") 

26 

Shu  AiUoiiio's   first    velocipedt-  is   st-eii   carceriiiii  around 1869 

27 

Thr  caUk-  trail  to    Kansas   is   now    in   constant  i)ul)lii-  use 1873 

28 

Arrhhishoi)  Odin  .liud  at  Andiirtli,  iMancf.  i  1  Ic  was  fornKTly  I'-ishop  of  Oalveston 
and  tliis  district,  and  took  a  lively  interest  in  San  Antonio  and  Texas — an  old 
Texas    Hishoio 1870 

29 

Hill  Hart,  a  notorions  ,ij,and)ler  and  des])erado,  was  killed  with  two  of  his  companions 
t)n  Alamo  Street  in  the  Superveille  House,  behind  Wolf  &  Marx's  store,  by  the 
\'i;4ilance  Conunittee,  headed  by  I'^ieldstrop,  who  was  also  killed.  Bill  Hart, 
.Miller,  Wood  killed  on  one  side;  Fieldstrop  killed  and  Taylor  wounded  on  the 
\'inilance  Committee  side.  No  killing,  ])erhaps,  in  San  Antonio,  ever  created  so 
nuudi  excitement  as  this 1857 

Organ  for  the  I'.piscopal  church  is  built  in  St.  Mark's 1875 

30 

I'our  ;\Iexican  horse   thieves  are    found   hanging  on   a    tree    near  San  Jose    ^lission — 

probably  more  Vigilance  Committee  work 1858 

31 

San  Antonio  is  tast  becoming  a  market  for  wool.  (Total  wool  brought  in  for  year 
1S74,  4(H),()()0;  total  wool  brought  in  for  year  1875,  (iOO.OOO.  Merino  2.S'_,  cents, 
1875;  lowest  Mexican  grades  17  cents,   187;j.) 1874 

Belknap  Rifles  take  third  prize  for  company  drill,  San  Antonio  Rifles  take  fourth 
prize,  Staacke,  of  San  Antonio  Rifles,  takes  tirst  prize  for  best  drilled  man, 
all  at  Washington,  D.   C 1887 

Ct round  is  now  being  broken  for  the  vSouthwestern   Texas  Lunatic   .Asylum,  about  Ave 

miles  vSoutli  of  the  city,  on  land  donated  for  that  purpose  by  the  city 1890 


JUNE. 

*  < — i^^ — »  ' 


An  Indian  fight  takes  place  near  Hondo  ;  two  whites  and  several  Indians  killed.  The 
Indians  are  found  to  possess  breech-loading  rifles,  which  "had  been  exchanged 
for  stolen   horses" 1872 


146  SAN  ANTQXK)  I)E  BKXAR. 

2 

First  Volksfesl  hel.l 1882 

Joe  Brannon,  another  of  the   «ran,L,r,  killed 1886 

3 

The  hones  of  Fannin's  men  huricil  witli  honors  of  war  by  order  of  General    Rnsk    at 

Fort  La  Bahia  on  the  San  Antonio  River 1836 

Rids  on  the  new  Federal  huildint; 1886 


The  Belknap  and  Maverick  Rifles  are  in  Galveston  to-day.     (Belknaps  win  first  prize 

onjnne  11th.) 1889 

5 

Battle  of  Alazan,  San  Antonio  ;  .Spanish    Royalists  defeated  ;  one  thousand  Royalists 

killed  and  wounded,   ninety-four  Americans   killed 1813 

New  Fire  Enj^ine  arrives.     A.  A.  Lockwood  chief  of  the  Fire  Company 1858 

:VIcDaniels.  the  robber,  makes  a  marvelous  escape  from  the  County  Jail  in  broad  day- 
hght,  cutting  his  shackles  with  a  saw  made  of  a  bootspring.  ^(vSee  July  1  and 
May  14) 1858 

6 

Beautiful  Parhelia  are  seen.  "First  a  halo  of  prismatic  colors,  afterwards  an  im- 
mense red  belt  that  stretched  from  North  to  South  of  equal  width  all  along"  .    .    -1870 

7 

First  Steam  Fire  Engine  arrives  in  the  city 1868 

Very  noisy  Prohibition  meeting  on  Government  Lot 1887 

The   Meny  property  is  bought  by  the  County  Commissioners 1888 

8 

Ten  loads  of  buffalo  hides  are  in  town  from  "out  west  " 1877 

Alamo   Monument   Association  chartered.     (^This  Association  held  its  first  meeting  on 

February  27,   1879,  organized  March  6,  1879.) 1879 

9 

Gueulher's  third  mill  begun  about  this  date 1878 

10 

Last  ca.se  of  Cholera  in  vSan  Antonio  of  the  Great  Epidemic  of 1849 

11 

First  consignment  of  fruit  from  Tampico,   Mexico,  via  Indianola.     Bananas,   plantains 

etc.,  sold  by  auction  by  F.  L.   Paschal 1859 

San  Antonio  Rifles  take  first  prize  at  Paris,  Texas,  for  best  company  drill 1887 

12 

Adams  and  Wickcs'  train  altackcil   by  Indians  on    Devil's  River 1869 

Skeleton  (jf  Frank  Harris  unearthed  in  the  Robber's  Cave  at  Helotes.  His  saddle  and 
remains  are  identified.  This  is  ;i  last  chajiter  in  the  history  of  the  notorious 
robber  gang        1886 


'rill".   MO N 'PI I   OF  Jl'NK.  147 

13 

CrockfU  Hl(H-k  on   Alamo   Pla/.a   bcKUii       1882 

14 

Mason  County  offers  S-')00  for   any  lioslile  savage  delivered  dead  or  alive  at  the  Mason 

County  Court  House  doors.     Big  Foot  Wallace  thinks  he  can  make  about  $500  .    .  1872 

15 

Indian  raid  only  two  miles  from   vSan    Antonio  ;    several  mules  stolen  and  one  shot  with 

arrows l07U 

16 

An  Iron  Bridge  arrives 1869 

17 

.Mrs.  M.  A.  :\Iaverick  came  to  San  Antonio.  (Mrs.  :\Iaverick  is  the  widow  of  one  of 
the  best  known  old  time  Texans,  vS.  A.  Maverick.  Mr.  Maverick  came  to  Texas 
before  the  fall  of  the  Alamo,  and  narrowly  escaped  perishing  with  Travis'  devoted 
band  and  he  took  an  active  "part  in  many  stirring  incidents  of  the  city's  history)  .  1838 

The  Cremation  Society  elects  its  officers 1885 

18 

Menger  Hotel  foundations  are  now  being  begun  bv  Wni.  A.  Menger.  Hotel  to  cost 
116,000,  J.  H.  Kampmann  builder.  Many  additions  have  l)een  made  to  this 
Hotel  since  this  date 1858 

19 

Foundation  laid  of  St.  Mary's  Street  Iron  Foot  Bridge.  (This  street  was  widened  at 
Commerce  Street  end  in  [anuarv,  1S!I0,  it  being  merelv  an  allev  at  that  point 
before) .       ' 1869 

20 

A  second  District  Court  is  established  in  San   Antonio  about  this  date  and  W.  W.  King 

is  the  first  appouited  Judge  (on  22nd  I 1890 

21 

Work  on  the  Quartermaster's  Depot  and  Water  Tower  is  begun  by  Braden  & 
Angus.  Height  of  Tower  88  feet.  United  States  Congress  had  appropriated 
$100,000  for  work  on  this  Depot 1877 

Oscar  Wilde  lectures  here ;--1882 

22 

San  Antonio  Street  Railroad  is  formally  opened  by  a  party  of  gentlemen  under  the 
leadership  of  Colonel  Belknap.  They  leave  in  a  car  at  Northwest  corner  of  .\lamo 
Plaza  for  San  Pedro  Springs,  Colonel  H.  B.  .\dams  acting  as  driver  of  car  No.  1  .    -1878 

Hildebrand  is  brutally  murdered  by  Thuriim  at  Castro\dlle.  Thumm  is  sent  to  the  pen- 
itentiary for  twenty-five  years  for  this  1887 

Augustus  Belknap  dies 1889 

23 

Corner  stone  of  Elliott  Memorial   Hall   laid 1889 


14S  SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BEXAR. 

24 

Agitation  for  more  sidewalks  is  ncnv  the  order  of  the  (lay 1870 

25 

Texan  Congress  passes  a  bill  apjjrovin.u  the  annexation  of  the  Re])uhlic  of  Texas  to  the 

United  States 1845 

26 

Fort  Velasco  taken  hy  Texans  under  John  Austin  from  Ugartechea 1832 

27 

IMcDaniels  and  Potters,  two  very  desperate  sta^e  robbers  and  murderers,  are  captured     1884 

28 

Soledad  Block,  corner  Houston  and  Soledad  streets,   begun 1883 

Belknap  Rifles  hold  Memorial  services  in  memory  of  Colonel   Augustus   Belknap   and 

Major  John  Cresson 188H 

29 

The  subscription  for  the  Northwest  Extension   of  the  San   Antonio  and   Aransas   Pass 

Railroad  now  reaches  to  $82,000 1886 

30 

Adams  and   Wickes'   train  attacked  l)y   Indians   near    Howard's   Springs  ;    150   mules 

stolen  and  one  teamster  killed  ...  1  869 

The  Belknap  Rifles  at  Lampasas  win  this  month  the  first  of  a  long  series  of  victories, 

second  prize  for  company  drill 1885 


JULY. 


vSan  Antonio  is  first  designated  a  Money  Order  office 1869 

McDaniels,  escaped  convict  and  liighwa>nian  is  shot  and  killed  l)y  Deputy  United 
States  Marshals  Van  ki]Hr  and  Stevens  at  Hen  Coffee's  goat  camp  about  eight  miles 
from  Boerne,  in  Bexar  Counl\,  wliillui  he  had  gone  to  see  his  sweetheart.  He 
wrote  a  threatening  letter  to  the  I)ail\  I<:x])ress  on  June  10th.  (See  also  June 
-,  and   Mav   14.) 1885 


THI-:   MOX'IMI   Ol"  jriA'.  145) 

2 

A  iiiiiuUc  <)l'  Ur-  Cil.\  krrunls  Uii>  (la\  reads  as  lollows:  •'In  coiiscqiiL-iU'C-  (^f  the 
Council  and  cili/ins  <,'i  lurally  l)eing  engaged  in  making  ].rei)arations  lo  repel  the 
aggressions  of  the  Indians  there  was  no  meeting  ol"  the  Corporation  this  day. 
Signed,  \V.    1'.    Delmonr    Secretary,  July   lind  •' 1838 

Buildings    now    (.ccn])ied    ii\    C.oldtVank,     iMank    .\:    Co.,    Main    Street,    are    ahout   half 

completed 1870 

3 

II.  Voaknm  coin]>letes  \-ohune  I,   History  of  Texas   il'uMished    IS.'.di  .  1854 

Rainfall  in  San  .\ntonio  from  Satnrdax ,  Jnly  ;;rd,  midnight,   to  Tuesday  morning,  Jnl\- 

lith,  is  fourteen  and  a  half  inches 1869 

The  old  front  of  San  Fernando  is  torn  down 1873 

4 

Annexation  Hill  i)assed  hy  the  Convention  of  Delegates  at  Austin 1845 


Tlie  present  (ISiHI)  Iron  F.ridge  on  Connnerce  street  is   begun .  1881 

Schol/.'s  new  Palm  Garden  is  oi)ened  with  a   concert 1885 

6 

Joseph  Moore,  wife  and  children,  are  killed  in  their  wagon  hy  Indians  at  Bandera.      One 

child    escaped 1873 

7 

Jose  Cordova  hanged  according  to  law  at  the  Bexar  County  Jail   for  the  nun-der  of  R. 

Trimble 1879 

First  gan-e  of  Polo  between  Blues  and  Reds  (another  game  on  July  !)) 1883 

8 

Ue  la  Harpe  rejilies  to  I )' Alari-onne's  letter  and  claims  the  Nassonite  lands  for  France  -1719 

9 

A  quiver  of   arrows  and   a   bow  is  exhibited  at   the  vSan   Antonio  Express  office    as  a 

curiosilv.     The  trophy  was  captured  in  the  "u])]ier  Country." 1870 

Cornerstone    of  County  and    City  Hosjjital  laid 1888 

10 

Ten  troops  of  United  States  Cavalry  ordered  out  for  Indian  service 1885 

11 

Indians  reported  eleven  miles  from  the  city 1870 

Ben  Milam's  grave  is  marked  by  a  stone  on  Washington  Square   Park  .  1878 

Bias  Herrera,  Texan  veteran,  dies 1878 

.lack  Harris  is  shot  by  Ben  T]u>mi)Son    in  the  saloon   at   "Jack    Harris'   corner"  1882 

12 

Groos'  house  on  "Alameda"  street  begun  (Alameda  now   E.  Commerce  street)  .  1872 

Stanniforth  is  murdered  with  two  bullets  iu  his  brain  as  he  sleeps 1885 


loO  SAN  ANTOXIO   I)K  BP:XAR. 


13 


Indian  raid  (by  Kiowas I  at  I-redericksbnr^ 1867 

The  Daily  Herald   discontinues  tf)  he  publislu-d .  1880 

14 

Death  of  Father  Johnston,  a  well  known  Cathnlu- jiriest  of  this  city 1885 

15 

The  Alamo  Insurance  Company,  a  local  company,  formed 1889 

16 

Avenue  C   is  graded 1878 

Curb  hydrants  are  first  established 1878 

H.  Brauer  is  mysteriously  murdered  at  the  vSan  Pedro   Springs 1885 

17 

Act  of  incorporation  of  City  of  San    Antonio  (eighth   documenti 1856 

18 

J7"),(M»U  additional  is  voted  for  quarters  and  barracks   at  the   Post 1885 

19 

The  Old  Lewis  mill  stopped.      For  nearly  20  years  this  mill  had  supplied  ground  corn 

to   San   Antonio 1869 

'J'his  mill  was  rebuilt  and   still    "goes  round" 1890 

20 

Goliad  citizens  take  justice  into  their  own  hands  and   consummate   terrible  vengeance 

on  horse  thieves  and  bandits.     They  hang  and  shoot  six  and  arrest  others  .    .       1858 

The  building  which  preceded  the  new  Kampmann  bank  building  and  took  the  place  of 
the  original   Maverick   House,    corner  of  Main  and  Soledad   streets,    is   now   being 

built 1869 

21 

J.  H.  Kampmann's  bank  building,  corner  of  Main  and  vSoledad  streets,  is  begun  .  1883 

22 

The  work  on  the  Federal  building,  Alamo  plaza,  is  busily  .going  on  when  J,    R.  Gordon 

pronounces  some   of   the  work  done    defective 1888 

23 

Sam    Houston  dies   at    Huntsville 1863 

Another  noisy  prohibition  meeting  on  Covernmenl  ].oi.  The  campaign  is  now  grow- 
ing   bitter 1887 

24 

K.  liragance  (Texan  veteran  i   dies   here 1886 

25 

The  Vance  building  on  MounIou  street  wa>  ihe  ..Id  military  lKad(iuarler>  bef.re  the  uar.  1859 


THE    MONTH   OF  AlT.rST. 


151 


26 

The  Santa  Rosa  li()S])ital  is  in  prdj^rrss  of  heiiii;  l)uilt  >  aildiliuiis  liave  been  made  Ui  this). 

It  was  huih  on  the  sitf  of  tlie  old  Mexican  l.mvin.u  .yrMinid 1869 

27 

The  stone  strnetnre  of  the  I'ederal  UuiliUnj;  on    Alamo  pla/a  is  lajndly  heinj,'  jjiished  to- 
wards   eonipU'tion 1889 

28 

An  armadillo  is  caught  In   some  children    in    the  eastern  sulmrhs 1882 

Captain    W.    ('..  Tobin  dies 1884 

Ground  broken  for  the  Club  and  ()])era  house    on  Alamo   i)la/.a 1886 


29 

Corner  stone  of  Trinity  Methodist    Episcopal  church  laid 


1879 


30 

James  Short  relates  a   terrible    and    jirolonged    hand-to-hand    encounter  with   a    bear  in 

Bandera    county 1859 

31 

Senator  and  General  Rusk,  one   of  the   chiefs  of  the  Texas  war  for  inde])endence,  sui- 
cides through  grief  for  the  death  of  his  wife 1857 


AUGUST. 


San  Antonio  Herald,  daily   edition,    No.  112   of   Vol.   1.   issue<i  (this   is  the  first  existing 

file  issue) 1857 

Battle  at  Nacogdoches  between  Texans   and    Mexicans 1832 


Belknap    battalion    formed 


1889 


l.")2  SAX  ANTONIO  DK   HICXAR. 

3 

Tile  Mt-u.tjer  liolel   is  already  l)ein.u   tiilariJeil    ^  see  Jaiiuarx   .ll  .    .       1859 

4 

l-ive  Iiulians  are  seen  on    the  Handera  road  l)\\\aUer  Tviiaii       ....  1870 

Prohibition  is  tletealed   1)\  a    large  majority  .    .  1887 

5 

.San  Antonio  cS:  Aransas  I'ass  Railroad  is  first  orj^ani/.ed  .  1884 

6 

Masotiry  work  of  Commerce  street  bridge  is   being  done 1870 

7 

The  troo])s  were  withdrawn  from  the  San  Antonio  Post   i see  August  28) 1873 


8 

Jacques  Hainline  hanged  here  according  to  law.    for  the  murder  of  Peter  Maddox  .  1879 

9 

The  Kam]>mann,  Steves  and  Hennett  buildings   are  now  going   u])  on  the  south    side    of 

Commerce  street 1870 

10 

The  ISIexican  cart  and  leamster  troubles  of  Coliad  and  Karnes  counties  excite  consider- 
able public  attention 1857 

11 

Belknap  and  San    Antonio  Rifles  return  from  Calveston 1886 

12 

The  city  charter  passes  the  legislature 1870 

13 

Stephen  Fuller  Austin  arrives  in  San  Antonio 1821 

Act  of  incorporation  of  San  Antonio  (ninth  doiunient) 1870 

14 

I'rench  building,  southeast  corner  of  .Main  i)la/.a,  is  nearly  completed 1858 

15 

The  Alamo  Rifles  resolve  to  disband,  but  did   not  do  so  until  a  short  time  afterwards  .       187  8 
0])euingof  the  Confederate  and  I'ederal  re-union  at    .San  Pedro  Sjirings 1888 

16 

Notorious  counterfeiters  arrested  and    mans    sloleti   dnifls   and  coin  dies  are   found  in  a 

jewelry  store  on  Conimerc-e  street  1859 

17 

David  Crockett  i)orn  .  1786 


TH1{    MONTH   ()I<    ArcrST.  153 

18 

BatUe  olMcdina— Mexican  Royalists  are  virlorious  iindtT   Arredoiulo 1813 

19 

The  Mexicans  are  j^rowin.u  very  jealons  of  the  t^rowin.ti  influence  of  Americans  in  Texas 

about   this   time 1829 

20 

Arredt)n(lo  enters  the  city  in    triumph;  700  of  the  citizens  are  imprisoned,  eigliteen  die 

of  suffocation  out  of  .'500  in  one  house;  the  remainder  are  shot 1813 

The  "Great  August  Storm;"  wind  from  the  northeast;  many  thousands  of  dollars  dam- 

a,ije  done  to  roofs  and  houses  in  the  city,  and    the  people   are  badly  scared 1886 

21 

Delej^ates  to   Denver  Deep  Water  Convention  arc  selected 1888 

22 

Tin    roof   workers  are  autocratic   just    now  (see  Au<rust20) 1886 

23 

Indian   raid   at  Castrovillc 1867 

Third  Volksfest  was  almost  abandoned  on  account  of  the  adverse  decisions  of  the  city 

attorney    (see     October     •22) 1884 

Jim  ]McCoy  handed  at  County  Jail  for  the  murder  of  Sheriff  McKinney 1889 

24 

Treaty  of  Cordova  perfected  by  which  Mexico  separates  from  vSpain 1821 

Vance  &  Bros,  give  one  lot  of  land,  for  the  erection  of  an  Kpiscopal  place  of  worship,  to 
vSt.  Mark's  congregation.  Mr.  S.  A.  Maverick  also  donates  four  city  lots  for 
church    ]mrposes 1858 

25 

Ferd.   Niggli   shot  at    Castrovillc   by  .Sheriff  Thumm.     He  dies   August  30.     'iMiumm 

refuses    to   surrender    to   .San     .Xntonio    officers    subsecjuently 1885 

26 

First  experiments  in  raising  "Chinese  Sugar  Cane."  or  .Sorgho,  now  known  as  Sor- 
ghum, mentioned  in  the   Herald 1857 

Right  Rev.   P.isho])  T'lliott,  l<:piscopal  P.isho]!  of  Western  'iVxas,  dies 1887 

27 

The  vStreet  Railway  Company  begins  its  extension  to  the  International  depot 1880 

Cxreat  fire  at  Hugo   &:   Schmeltzer's   on   Commerce  Street;  very  heavy  loss;  three  men 

severeh- burned;   two  subseciuently  die  of  their  injuries 188  3 

28 

Mexico  revolts  against  Spain  to  become  a  Republic 1821 

The   Military   Post  is  re-established  here    (see  .August   7) 1875 

A  plague  of  crickets  is  upon  us 1888 


154 


SAN  ANTONIO  DE  BKXAR. 


29 

The    vvav    we   i^^ot   ice    in   those   days;    an   advertisenienl    announrcs.     "Arrival    of    Ice 

Wagons  from  the  Ray." 1857 

Another  advertisement  (Saturday  i:  "The  ]■'.]  I'aso  mail  will  close  next  Tuesihiy  morn- 
ing at  nine  o'clock 1857 

30 

Henry  Karnes,  one  of  the  old  remarkable  trap])ers  and  jjioneers.  raided  in  Tennessee, 
and  was  at  the  battle  of  Concepcion,  dies  in  the  month  of  August  in  vSan  Antonio. 
(Karnes  County  gets  its  name  from  him. ) 1840 

George  Hoerner    dies 1885 


31 

San  Antonio  Gas  Works  are  inaugurated  about  this  date  .... 
Two  car  loads  of  ponies  are  shipped  from  San  Antonio  to  England 


1859 
1877 


t 

:^. 

f  _ 

^^^ 

i 

w 

^^ 

Jr«r^/ 

^  ''\* 

■i 

-^^^^ 

^*- 

' 



SEPTEMBER. 


1 

San  Antonio  and  ^lonterey  this  day  connected  b\  railroad 1882 

Letter  carrier  .system  established 1882 

Joske  Bros,  introduce  copper  pennies  into  their  business.      (The\  had   previously  been 

introduced  into  the  city  on  December  17,  lSS(i.  ) 1887 

Copper  pennies  are  very  little  used 1890 

2 

Very  brilliant   .Aurora   Horealis  seen    here  (see    September    24i       1859 

First  case  of  the  Cholera  epidemic  was  nc^ar  Concepcion  Mission,      i  Last  ca.se  October 

12,  LS(J(;.     Total  fatal  cases  2U2.) 1866 

Mr.  S.    A.  Maverick  dies.     (Texan  pioneer  of  early  thirties,    was  inlimately  identified 

with  the  city  and    state's   history  and  interests  for  u])wards  (if  40   years.) 1870 

3 

Coniaiulu-    Indians   troublisoinc    around   the    cil\.      Two  surveyors  were  killed  cii  llu- 

Leon  Creek.      The    Indians   were    followed    and  seven  killed ....  1838 


THK  MONTH  OI"   SI:I''1M:MI51vR.  1."..-, 

4 

Corner  stone  of  Joske's  huilding,  corner  ol"  Coniineree   and    Alamo  streets,  laid  .    .  1888 

5 

vSani  Houston  eleeled  President  of  the  Rei)ul. lie   of  Texas -1836 

Six  Mexicans   fonnd  hans^in.i;  on   trees  on  the   Cil)olo  Creek,  near  Hoerne 1868 

6 

Stephen  l'\  Austin  returns  to  Texas  ahout  this  date,  after  a  prolon.i^ed  enforced  deten- 
tion since  April  or  May,  I.S;>.'!,  in  Mexico,  i  He  is  shortly  elected  (General  of  the 
I'orces  at  (xou/ales.  IS.T),  and  says  :  "  1  fully  hoped  to  have  found  Texas  at  peace 
and  in  trancpiility,  hut  rei^ret  to   find    it    in    coinniotion  and   threatened 

with  iniincdiatc  hostilities."      The  Ti-xas  Revolution  is  now  lie.L;iiinin.L;  in  earnest,  i  .  1835 

The  old   "  r.at  Cave  "  Court  Iloust',  northwest  c.inicr  .Military   plaza,  he.min 1850 

7 

A  Scnithern  Pacific  Railroad  is  being  stront;ly  urged  at  this  early   date 185T 

Bob  Augustin,  who  came  up  from  Goliad  wdth  others  of  his  kidney  to  join  Sihiex  's 
Brigade,  is  arrested  by  Win.  Lyons  for  disorderly  conduct,  upsetting  and  over- 
riding the  chile  stands  on  ^lain  rla/.a  (see  vSeptember  !)th ) 1861 

8 

Meeting  held  to  devise  nieans  of  turning  the  ( )lnios  creek  into   the   Alazan   to   prevent 

overflows  in   the   San    .\ntonio    River 1868 

9 

Bob  Augustin  is  released  by  the  Mayor,  but  is  taken  in  charge  by  a  determined  mass 
of  citizens  and  one  of  the  most  exciting  lyncliings  in  the  histor\-  of  the  citv  fol- 
lows. Bob  is  hanged  on  a  tree  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Military  Plaza  at  the  en- 
trance of  Floras  street  (this  tree  was  grimly  named  -'La  Ley  de  Mondragon)  at  the 
hands  of  a  vigilance  committee  and  b}'  the  uuaninious  consent  of  a  large  mass  of 
citizens,  who  had  concluded  that  Bob  was  a  bad  man  i.see  September  7,  hSdl  i  .    .       1861 

Ox  carts  are  .seeing  their  great  day 1870 

Saengerfest  in   San   Antonio 187  0 

10 

The  Jewish  Synagogue  on  Travis  Park   is  dedicated 1875 

11 

General    Woll  and    his    Mexican   army    invests    San    Antonio   udso  General   \'asquez, 

March  7,    ls4l'i 1842 


*La   hv.y 


MoNDk.vGox — 1*'lori-;s  Strkkt. 


A  little  tree  once  grew 

111  a  street  of  San  Antone, 

That  little  tree  we  knew 

.As  "  La  ley  de  .Mondragon," 

Which  ill  a  street  of  flowers 
Put  forth  no  blossom  fair. 

Vet  by  the  Holy  Powers 
A  gha.stly  fruit  it  bare. 


Whose  seed  was  sudden  death. 

Whose  stem  a  tight  drawn  rope. 
The  Vigilante  saith 

■■  Well  founded  is  the  hope 

That  the  law  of  Mondragon 

.Vll  Texas  will  endorse 
That  ■  here  in  San  Antone 

You  must  not  steal  a  horse.'  " 


lo6  SAN  ANTONIO   DIv  BEXAR. 

12 

Sixth  Aiimial  I'air  is  held  1875 

Lone  Star  Brewery  is  opened 1884 

Additional  Barracks  and  Quarters  are  1(1  Ik-  laiih   at   the  New   Post.     Contract  let  Sep- 

tend)er  18 1888 

13 

A  (".ernian  named  Thulle  is  killed  l>y    Indians  at   Castrt)ville 1867 

At  an  election  held  this  day  ( loBH  votes  for  and  4()  against)  the  Columbus  or  "Sunset" 
route  is  subsidized  bv  the  city  and  county  $5()(),0(l().  (This  did  not  materialize,  see 
January  liHth .  ...'.../ 1873 

14 

Celebration  in  San  Antonio  of  the  one  liumlredth  anniversary  of  Humboldt's  birthday      1869 

A  Lij^ht  Artillery  Company  reorganized,  Stanley  Welch,  Captain 1870 

I'ancoast's  building  on  Commerce  street  begun •  1880 

Through  communication  with  vSaltillo  completed 1883 

Last  stone  of  the  New  Federal  Building  on  Alamo  Plaza  laid 1889 

15 

Great  "Indianola"  storm  on  the  coast.  8:21  lives  lost  at    Indianola,    which  city   is  de- 

stroved  (  Herald  says  September  17?) 1875 

The  Military  Headquarters  begun  (now  Maverick  Hotel,  see  also  April  11  and  Feb- 
ruary ;>! 1877 

The  Texas  State  I'niversity  is  opened  at  Austni   with   108  students 1883 

]?elkna])    Rifles  inaugurated 1884 

16 

Mexican  Independence  Day.     Don  Miguel  Hidalgo  proclaims  in  favor  of  liberty  1810 

The  Colored  Catholic  Church  is  dedicated  by   Bishop  Neraz  1888 

The  corner  stone  of  the  City  Hall,  Military    Plaza,    is  laid       1889 

17 

Captain  Hays  defeats  General  Woll  on  the  Salado  creek.    Captain  Dawson's  command 

lo-ses  86  men  on  the  same  da\-.     Ceneral  Woll  retires  to  the  Rio  (yrande 1842 

18 

George   Wilkins   Kendall   .advertises    "Merino   F.ucks  ;"    this    is    probably    one    of   the 

earliest  iiilrodm-lions  of  this  breed  into  Texas 1857 

19 

First  issue  of  the  San  Antonio  I)ail_\     i'inus 1880 

20 

St.  Josei)h's  Clunch   IS  .ilmosl    linished 1872 

21 

While  vellow  fever  is   r.iging  al  Housi.m  and  Galveston  there  is  none  in   San  Antonio      1867 
The  S.m  .\ntonio   I  )ailv  Her.ild  is  sold  by  auction 1878 

22 

TIh    Dnlhiig  block,  corner  ..r  (.'oninurce  .and    Alamo  streets,  is  begun  1883 


THb:  MONTH    ol'    SI'l'Tl-.M  1U{R  l.^: 

23 

General  H.  P.  Bee  came  lo  Texas  via  Galveston,  on  the  rnsl  tup  of  the  Morgan  line  of 
steamers,  steamship  Columbia,  Captain  Wright.  (The  General  took  part  in  the 
Indian  battle  at  Plum  Creek  between  San  Antonio  and  Austin,  in  1H4(»,  and  he 
finally  came  to  San  Antonio  in  1842.  during  the  Vasquez  campaign.  He  ser\-ed 
with  distinction  in  many  Indian  campaigns,  and  in  the  invasion  of  Mexico  by  the 
ITniicd   vStates  .    .  

A  wrangle  over  the  '•  lW:id  ..f  the  River    '  is  now  going  on  in   the  city,  all  to  little  j.ur- 

pose,  since  the  city  had  sold  its  birthright   securelv  and   legally 1886 


1837 


24 

Ihillianl   Aurora   liorealis   visible   at  il   p.  ni.    (see  Sei)tember    2.    bSotO 1870 

25 

Bill    Whitley,    the  desperado   and  train    robber,    is   killed,    resisting  arrest,    by    Tnited 

.States  marshals.      Ilis  body  is  brought  to  San  Antonio  aiui  viewed  by  hundreds  1888 

26 

Horns  first  become  an  article  of  commerce  here 1868 

The  first  regular  trip  in  San  Antonio  of  an  electric  motor  car  was  made  on  the  Alamo 
Electric  Street  Railwav  Company's  track  from  Navarro  Street  to  the  International 
I'air  Grounds,  south  of  the  city  (Thompson-Houston  .system).  Since  this  date,  all 
the  main  street  car  lines  have  adopted  electric  motor  cars  of  this  and  the  Spragiie 
svstem        1890 


27 

The  corner  .stone  of  the  new  Cathedral  of  San  I'ernaudo  is  laid  with  impressive  cere- 
mony   on  Sunda}-  lofjo 

Daneuhauer  block,  corner  .Mam  street  and  ?ilain  plaza,  completed  and  Sol  Deutsch  goes 

into    l)U.siness    there 187  7 


28 

The  Governor  of  Texas  issues  a   proclamation  of  a  severe  character  against  fence   cut- 
ters ;  also  against  jiersous  unlawfully  enclosing  laud  by  fences      .    .  .       1883 


29 

James   'Slnwu.  a  farmer,  i)loughs  u])  an  old  Spanish  coat  of  mail  an<l  some  cojjper  coins 

on  Ihe  Medina  river,  a  relic  of  long  t)ygone  d  lys 1885 

30 

The  Alamo  Mission   Church   is  still  being  used  as  a  I'nited  States  commissary  store         1858 

The  Government  Hospital  at  the  Post    is  begun 1885 

The  Cro.sstown  "Street  "  Railroad  makes  its  first  trij) 1888 

The  James  residence  was  built  in  September.    (This  house,  still  standing  on  Commerce 

street,    ISnO,    is  perhaps  the  oldest   .\merican  residence  of  two  .stories  in  the  city. 

General  Worth  died  in  this  hou.se,  and  it  is  also   a  house   that   General   Robert  Iv. 

Lee  frequented  when  he  was  here  in   charge  of   the  military  department.  1847 

Nat  Lewis,  Sr.,  came  to  Texas  about  this  date 1842 


l.",,s 


SAX  AXTOXll)  1)1-;  liliXAR^ 


OCTOBER 


Major  Vail  Dorn  enga.t^es  in 


ru'u.ii    ti.ulit  ;    ■")(;  Indians  killed 


1858 


Skinnish  at  Gonzales  between  Texaiis  and  :\Iexicans  over  Uie  possession  of  the  Gon- 
zales cannon.  The  Texans  are  victorious;  this  opens  the  War  of  Texan  Inde- 
pendence    I800 

Guenther's  lower  (first)  mill  bei^un 1859 

Henrv  Ward  Beecher  lectures  at  the  Casino  on  the  Reign  of  the  Common  People  .  1883 


3 

The  Vance  building,  on    Houston    street,  is  still  used  as  a  tnilitaiy  depot 


1858 


Gre 


at  swarms  of  grasshoppers  infest  San  Antonio  from  a  southeasterly  direction  1867 


1857 
1883 

1885 


The  mail  from  San  Antonio  arrives  at  San  Diego,  Cal.,  in  2(>'.  days,  "ra.stest  time 
on  record;  complete  triumph  of  the  Southern  route."  (It  is  afterwards  done  in 
much   less    time.") 

Second  annual  Volksfest ;  very  brilliant  parade  ;  great  success  . 

Dr.  Howardis  appointed   Postmaster 

6 

San  Fernando  Cathedral  is  opened  with  much  ceremony ■  1873 

Indians  kill  three  boys  and  a  girl  named   Dowdy,  above  Kerrville,  on  the  Cxuaddupe  1878 
Grcnet  begins  the  inartistic  wooden  building  for  a  grocery  store  adjoining  the  Alamo 

Church,  and  partly  on  the  site  of  the  convent  walls  and  convent  vard  1878 

San  Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Railroad  is  completed    to  Kerrville  .  1887 


The  first  St.  Marv's  i-treet  bridge  is  erected 


1858 


8 
Grouiiil  is  broken  for  tlaw;/(/  San    Antonio  .Xatioii.il    ILink  l)nilding    now  o.Tui)ie(l  bv 

O'Connor  it   Sullivan,   bankers) 1867 

Vgn.-icia  Cortez  is  ac(|nitted  of  the  murder  of  Stanniforth 1885 


TIM';    MOX'PH    Ol*   OC'l'OI^.l'R.  !.",'.» 

9 

ColliiiswdiUi    and    Milam    iai>Unv   Coliad 1835 

Mrs.  Haimi';,  wlio  was  a  Mirvivor  of  tin-  st()rniin,L;<)f  the  Alam  >,  and  was  tlu-  wife-  of 
I.ieulniant  I  )irkiiiN.iii  who  was  kilU-d  llurr,  dies.  (Mrs.  I)ickiiis(jii  was  the 
iiiolluT  ol'-' Tile  Child   .if  the    AlaiiU)."' 1883 

10 

Stephen   1''.   Austin  assuiiU's  eominaiid  of  the  Texatis  at  ( ~.()ii/,ales       ....   1835 

Case  of  San  .\iiloiiio  and    Mexican   Cnlf  Riilroa<l    v.    Citv  of  San  Antonio  is    decided 

against     the     eity 1868 

11 

Kl  I'aso  and  San  Antonio  mail  attacked  In    Indians;   two  of  the  escort  are   kiile<l  .    .    .   1867 

12 

S.  l'\  Austin,  conuuandini;  the  Tcxans,  starts  for  San  Antonio  against  Cos 1835 

Last  case  of  I'holera  epidemii'  '  see  Septend):'r  I'l  . 1866 

13 

First  revohitiouary  meeting  held  in   San   Antonio 1834 

Citizens  an-  hrealhing  more  freely  and  are  thankful  that  tlie  cholera  was  no  worse  \see 

Seplemlu'rl'and  llii 1866 

14 

city  autliorities  are  talking  of  widening  Comirierc  '  street,  along  hv  ('rroos"  hank  .    .    .   1867 
Ground  hroken  for  the  new   San  Antonio  National  I'.ank  huilding,  Commerce  street.  .    .   1885 

15 

Many  fences  are    being  cut  and   burned    about  this  time 1883 

16 

.\  three    hundreil  dollar   loot-bridge  is  ojieni-d  on    Commerce  street 1866 

17 

Nearly  all  the  Anierican  Texans  are  becoming  convinced  that  it  is  now  com])lele  inde- 

penikiue    iVom  Mexico  or   mjthing 1835 

18 

J.  I{rnist  Smith,  express  messenger,  is  given  a  rousing  reception  for  having  so  effect- 
ually dis])osed  of  train   robbers  on    tiie  vSouthern  Pacific  Railroad  near  Ivl  I'aso  .    ,  1887 

19 

Kighly-two  camels  are  imported   by  jirivate  enterj)rist'  from  the  Canary  Islands  .    .    ,    .  1858 

20 

Austin  arrives  with  the  Texan  forces  at  the  Mission  Espada 1835 

The  colored  "  Kxcelsior  Guards  "'  are  organized 1882 

The  Prospect  Hill  Street  Railroad  is   organized 1883 


1()()  SAN  ANTONIO   DH   HHXAR. 

21 

Georj^t'  Wilkins  Ktiulall,  a    j^ood    ami    true   frit-iid    to   San    Antonio  and  Texas,  dies    at 

Hoerne .         .  .   1867 

It  is  to-day  decided  to  build  llie  Southwestern    Liniatie  Asyhun    in  Bexar  CouiHy       .    .  1889 

22 

Case  of  Rhodes  v.  Whitehead  et  al.  is  decided  in  favor  of  defendant.  This  suit  was  to 
test  certain  rights  to  use  the  old  Concepcion  ditch.  This  ditch  was  afterwards 
abandoned ;  it  ran  along  Garden  .street  from  the  old  dam,  now  the  Lewis 
mill  dam.  and  was  constructed  about  the  time  of  the  founding  of  the  Con- 
cepcion Mission,  probably  about  the  year  1729,  and  it  watered  the  lands  of  that 
Mii-.sion.     This  case  was  decided '.    .    .  1858 

23 

Suit  city  V.  Bishop  ( )din  l)egun — .\lamo  jjroperty       .         1850 

Second  day  of  the  third  annual  X'olksfest.     The  Belknaps   now    win  first  prize  for  best 

drilled   company.      San    Antonio    Rifles   win  second  .  1885 

24 

J.  B.  Lacoste,  old  and  progressive  citizen,  first  president  of  San  Antonio  Water  Works 

and  the  San  .\ntonio  Ice  Factory,  dies 1887 

25 

Some  genuine  Gyp.sies  encamp  this  week  at  ,San  Pedro  .Springs 1873 

26 

l-'a.stest  record  of  stage  mail  from    I{1  Paso  in  six  days 1868 

27 

Fannin,  with  a  force  of  Texans,  arrives  at  Mission  Concepcion 1835 

Ca])tain  W.  G.  Tobin  hastens  with  a  company  of  60  men    to  relieve   the   frontiersmen 

from  the  aggressions  of  Cortina's   invasion 1859 

28 

I'.attle  of  Concepcion  between  Fannin's  force  of  90  Texans  and  the  Mexican  troops  from 
San  .Antonio,  under  Cos.  The  latter  are  driven  back  to  the  city.  Richard 
.\ndrews  is   killed,  the  first  in  this  campai<.'n 1835 

29 

I'irst  Convent  foot-])ridge  is  built  by  sul  scri])tion  ;  it  is  afterwards  washed  awiiy  ...  1868 
Cardinal  Gibbons  is   here,  and  next  day  he  ofliciates   at  San  Fernando   Cathedral  .  1887 

30 

General    Cos  is  fortifying  San   .\nlonio 1835 

One  thousand  Texans  under  Austin  at  Mission  Concepcion.  (Many  of  them  disperse 
sh(.rt]y  afterwards  to  escape  the  severity  of  the  weather.  Having  been  liastily 
summoned,  they  came  unprepared  to  winter. ) 1835 

31 

The  1x11  ol' St.  Mark's  arrives  from  Troy,   .\.  V.      It  was  cast  from  an   old   cannon    ih\v. 

up  in  the  Alamo,  and  was  cast  at  the  exjK-nse  of  vS.    A.   Maverick 1874 

[Mem. — The  revolutionary  ideas  of  the  Texan  party  had  arisen  by  the  relusal  of  Santa 

Anna  to  sejjarate  Texas  from  Coahnila.] 1834 


Till'.   MON  ril    oi'    X()\  I'.MHlvR, 


i»n 


NOVKMHKR. 


The  I'nited  States  Arsen.-il  is  begim  to  be  built  on  its  present  site 1859 

Antonio  Manchaca,   a  ])roininent  Mexicau-Texan  veteran  and  citizen,  horn  ISOO,  dies 

this    day 1879 

Mr.    Herman  Kanipniann   takes  the  Men^jer   Hotel   in   hand 1887 


I-irst  match   j^ame  of  base  ball   played  in  this  city 1867 

The  Belknap  Rifles  receive  their  charter 1884 

The  first  survey  of  the  San  Antonio  and  .A.rausas  Pass  Railroad  is  completed       .  .  1884 

3 

The  city  is  first  lighted  with  .y^s 1866 

The  Edison  Phonograph  makes   its  first  appearance  here  at  the  .\lamo  Literary  Hall      1878 


Klores\'ille  and  vSan  Antonio  are  connected  by  wire  ;   first  message  on  the  .5th       .    .        .  1886 


Corner  stone  of  (German  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Joseph  laid  with  great  ceremony  .    .    .  1868 
The  new  building  of  the  San  .Vntonio  National  Bank,  on  Commerce  street,  is  occupied.  1886 


San  Antonio   National  IJank  is  organized 
The  second  International    Fair  is  opened 


1866 
1889 


Magee  is  at  C.oliad   with  the    "  Republicans:"  the  Royali.sts  are  defeated 


1812 


8 

The  Texans  take  up  a  position  at  Powder  House  Hill  overlooking  San  .\ntonio      ...  1835 
Giraud,   City  Engineer  (afterwards  Mayor),    begs  the  City  Council  to  reserve  the  lots 
and  head  springs  at  the  head  of  the  river,  and  to  reserve  a  strip  of  land  on  the  east 

bank  of  the  river  within  the  city  limits 1852 

T,  C.  Frost's  residence,  Soledad  street,  begun 1881 

Milam  Block   begun 1881 


162  SAN   AXTOXIO   1)K   BHXAR. 

9 

A  large  train  of  United  vStates  camels  pass  till ouiih  Coiiiiiif roe  street  ...       1859 

10 

'•  Ledger  and  Texan    1  )aily  New  spaper,"  No.    1,  published 1859 

11 

Foundation  stone  of  joint   City  and  County  Hospital  laid 1886 

12 

The  Vance  House  is  first  opened  as  a  hotel,     i  This  was  the  ol<l   Military  Headquarters 

before  and  for  some  years  after  the   war.  1 1872 

13 

First  trial  of  the  new  steam  roller  for  street  improvements 1885 

The  first  International  Fair  held  at  the  new  Fair  grounds,  at  Riverside  Park,  opened  by 

President  Diaz,   of  Mexico,  by  telegraph 1888 

14 

The  corner  stone  laid  of  the  original  Odd    Fellows'  Hall  building,  on   Houston  street. 

(This  hall  was  added  to  and  remodeled  in  1889-90. ) 1878 

Reunion  of  the  Terry  Rangers  in  San  Antonio 1889 

15 

Lorenzo  de  Zavalla  dies  at  vSan Jacinto  mot  at  the  battle) 1836 

San  Antonio  thoroughly  aroused  over  the  Cortinas  invasion    at   Brownsville.      Much 

excitement  in  town loDo 

The  West  End  Town   Company  is   organize<l  and   receives  the  final   transfer  of  the 

property 1887 

16 

It  is  finally  seen  that  Victor  Considerant's  Socialistic  Colony,  near  Dallas,  does   not 

prove  to  be  a  success 1858 

J.J.  Duerler  secures  a  charter  for  a  street  railway  to  San  Pedro  Springs  (it  does  not 

materialize) 1866 

17 

The  charter  of  the  San    Antonio  and  Mexican  Gulf  Railroad  is  renew^ed  1857 

A  committee  is  appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions  to  vSt.  Mark's  Church  1858 

18 

Sunday  law  does  not  prove  acceptable  to  San    Antoniaiis  about  this  time 1887 

19 

Continued  aii.l  persistent  rain  interrupts  tin-  su>  ci-ss  of  tlu-  Inleniali..iiai   1-air  here  1888 

20 

The  Mexican  Royalists  from  San  Antonio  are  defeated  at   C.oliad  1812 

James  and  Resin  Rowie  defeat  the  Indians  m  their   celeliratdl    light   ai  San  Saba  1831 

San  Antonio  let-    I'actory  establisliecl  186o 


THI".   MONTH    Ol'    N()\'HMHK1<.  Mi.'. 

21 

'I'hf  ])ivseiit  I  iStlOi  Coiiiiinrcf  stret-l  hridiii-  is  hej^uii  about  this  date 1880 

TlK-    Natiuiial    Ivlitorial  Ass  niatioii  iiu-c-ls  luTr 1888 

22 

The  fir-t  rit\ ordiiiaiu-c  a,L;aiiisl  rarryiii.i;    coiicc-alcd   (k-adl\-  weapons       ........   1867 

23 

B.  1,.  Crouch  rcfeivc>  llu-  ut-ws  llial  several  of  his  uearest  rehitives  are  hrulallv  mur- 
dered.     No  IraiH-   of  the   murderer 1883 

24 

The   lierK    Tvlectric    TJj^lit   starts    with  (>-")   lights.      Tliis  is  the  seeoud  visitation   of  San 

.Antonio  by  eleelririlx   and  the  d\naiii<i 1887 

25 

I'ire   Coui])anv  established  about  this  date,  .\.  .A.    Loekwood,  chief 1857 

Thomas  William  Ward,  Cajjtun  of  .\rlillery  at  the  stonnin.s^  of  .San  .\uionio,  ]KV),  dies 

Ht    Austin 1872 

John  James,  an  old  cili/.eu  of  the  early  forties,  dies  (see  Se])tember  ;i()) 1877 

26 

"The  Crass  I'ij^ht."      The  ]\Iexicans  fi.tjht  for  tjrass  for  their  cavalry,  and   arc  defeated 

I'.v    the    Texaus 1835 

An  act  to  amend  the  act  of  January  14th,   1S4:.',  juacted   (seventh   document  relating  to 

'■nvchailer, \    .  1855 

27 

Lieutenant  Ivg.^leston  ordered  to  cross  the  Rio  Crande  to  jnirsue  Indians,  if  neeessarv  .  1884 

28 

Kuiigrants  horn  Canary   Islands  arrive  in    San  .Antonio— sixteen  families 1730 

La   Villa  Capital   de   San    Fernando   fouudeil  lold   document   in    County  Records  ct)n- 

taining  ordinances  of  San  Antonio  i 1730 

Austin  resigns  command  of  the  army  of  Texaus  on  being  a])i)oiuted  United  .States  Com- 
missioner         1835 

b'ence  cutting  is  rami)ant    still 1884 

29 

Greiiet  purchases  part  of  the  .Alamo  pro])erty 1877 

30 

first  Presbyterian  Church,    Houston  street,    dedicated 187  9 

James  L.  Truehart,  Texas  veteran,  dies 1882 

Cornerstone   of  Madison    Presbyterian  Church  laid 1882 

"  Deaf,"  or  Krastus  Smith,  a  celebrated  scout  and  i)ioneer  of  Texas  revolutionarv 
times,  was  born  .April  lit,  1787.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  preparation  of  the 
defense  of  the  Alamo,  but  was  absent  on  duty  during  the  seige,  and  shortly  after- 
wards <lid  gooci   service  at  the  battle  of  San   Jacinto;    dies 1836 


164 


SAN  ANTONIO  13K  BEXAR. 


^y%c^z=L 


)ECEMBER. 


*"i=^^5==r 


Postmaster  Johnson  takes  charj^e  of  the  San  Antonio  Post  Office 


1889 


(korge  DuUnig  finds  petroleum  on  his  ranch  hv  drilling  for  artesian  water 


1887 


'J'he  population  of  the  City  of  San  Antonio  is  reported  about  this  date  by  the  assessor 
as  7142.  (It  is  supposed  to  be  incorrectly  estimated  on  Augu.st  13,  1858,  as  Cit\ 
of  San   Antonio,  .5281  ;  Coimty  of  Bexar,  4897.) 1856 


Stock  amounting  to  $50,000  taken  by  the  city  in  the  San  Antonio  .Mexican  Culf  Rail- 
road.    (J.  M.  Devine,  Mayor.)     See  December  30 1850 

Kxperimental  "tube  well  "  sunk  on  Militar\- Plaza,  26  feet  deep 1868 


San  Antonio  is   assaulted  by  the  Texans  under  .Milam  and   V.  W.  Johnson  ;  one  Texan 

killed  and  fifteen  wounded 1835 

The  abandoned  wires  of  the  Military  Telegraph  are   purchased  by  the   Ivrie  Telephone 

aiifl    Telegraph    Com])any 1883 

6 

I'ive  Texans  wounded  in  the  assault  this  day 1  835 

(ieorge  Hoerner's  saloon  opened  on  Commerce  street 1858 

First  raid  by  the  city  on  gamblers 1867 


Death  of  .Milam  and  two  others  in  the  assault 


1835 


Texans  succeed  in  taking  a  Innise  on    .Main    I'l; 


1835 


9 

Ceiieral  Cos  surremlers  the  citv  to   C.enera!  Burleson,    coniniander   of  the  'IVx.nis  1835 


'IMII'    MONTH    Ol'    DI'.CI'Min'R.  Hi") 

10 

Heiny  I'^iiK-iidorf's  resiiltMice  he't;iiii 1881 

11 

IMeinorial  scrvict'S  held  in  Ihe  Ojicra    IIciusc  in   meinorv  of  JeffLM-soii  Davis 1889 

12 

National  caltk-  trail  has  hcen  the-  principal  topic  anionj;  the  cattlemen  at  their  incetin.ti 

this  week.      (The  trail  had    -'to-o   '    l.efore  the  land-.i^rahhers  and  the  railroads ',  .  1884 

13 

Railroad  connnnnicalion  with  \e\v  Orleans  is  nini-h  a,t;itated  at  this  date 1858 

The  Ala/an    ditch    is    nearlv  conqjleted       1876 

14 

Act  of  incorporation  of  tlu-  Citv  of  vSan  Antonio.  I'l'his  is  the  third  document  of  incor- 
poration.     See  Jannary,    17:!;;   and     17:!4.       Also    January   o,    1S37) 1837 

Indi.s^nation  nuetin^  of  citi/.ens   held    strons^ly  condeninini>  fence  cuttin.'; 1883 

15 

Amendments  to  certain  sections  of  the  City  Charter  of  San  Antonio  made  at  the  elec- 
tion  held  this  date  (tenth  document) 1874 

Bufialo  I'.ill  entertains  us  at  the   Casino 1879 

16 

The  Citv  Council  decides  to  open  Crockett  street  across  the  river  to  St.  Clary's  street. 

(This  is  an   inqiortant  improvement. ) 1889 

17 

Kit  Carson's  letter  ])ul)lished  in  the  San  Antonio  Daily  Herald,  dated  from  Taos,  New 
:Mexico,  saying  that  a  little  Te.\as  boy  had  been  recovered  from  the  Indians  and  he 
wishes  him  to  be   a.lvertised 1859 

Cop])er  pennies  are   introduced  into   the  city  into  commerce 1886 

18 

The  .\lamo  Rifles  give  a  grand  ilress  and  military  ball   at  the  "  New  "  Casino  Hall  .    .  1857 

19 

S.  M.  Wills,  who    had   been    held    for  four  years  a  captive   by  the   Comanches,  escapes 

:ind  relates  his  experiences  in  San   Antonio 1878 

Kmm.i  Abbott  opens  the   Grand   ()])era  House,  .\lamo  I'la/.a 1886 

20 

Veager  is  arre.stcd,  and  on  the  22(1  of  this  month  Pitts  and  Veagcr  are  identified  as  the 

much  wanted   ])ostoirice  and  mail  robbers 1884 

21 

The  first  I'air  of  tlu- Agricultund  and  Imhistrial  Association  ofWestern  Tex.ns  isopenedl868 
I'onrtein  tlunisand  dollar>   is  .ipi)rojiriatt'd    by  the   Tniled   St.ates  Congress  to  ])nrch.i^.c 

land  to  enlarge   the    ,\r^enal  gr.mnds 1880 


166  SAX  AXTOXIO  DK  BKXAR. 

22 

(Tallaj^la-r's   ooriier,  lu-ar   Mender   Ilotc-l,  i>   <)crii])ii.il  oii  Uiis  dale  Ity  Ur-  San  AnlDiiio 

I'oslofficf 1879 

23 

James  Kerr,  the  oldest  Anu-rican  sfllk-r  \vf>l  i)f  Colorado  river,  ilies 1850 

We  hear  of  a   brittle   with   the   (■>eroniino   hand   of  Apaches  in  whieh  two  officers  are 

killed    and    some   men 1885 

24 

Right  Reverend  Anthony  Dominic  Pelicer  is  installed  at   San    l-ernando   Cathedral   a? 

first  Bishop  of  San  Antonio  i  he  was  buried  in  this  Cathedral  A]Mil  17,  Issd       .  1874 

25 

Stephen  F.  Austin,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  Republic  of  Texas,  dies  at  Columbia  1836 

The  battle  at  Mier,  Mexico,  is  fought 1842 

The  International  Railroad  track  is  complete!  to  Laredo  ;  first  train  this  day  .        ...  1881 

26 

Santa  Anna  and  Almonte  are  released  by  President  Houston 1836 

The  Texans  on  the  Mier  expedition  surrender  to  the  Mexicans 1842 

27 

Cortinas  is  beaten  by  the  Texans  under  1-ord  and  Tobin,  near  Brownsville 1859 

28 

San  Antonio  is  just  beginning  to  feel  the  possibility  of  becoming  a  market  for  cotton      1858 

29 

The  Maverick  Trinting  House  have  just  moved  into  their  fine  new  five-story  building 

on  Avenue  l- 1890 

30 

A  city  election  is  held  to  consider  the  advisability  of  taking  stock  in  the  San  .Vntonioand 
^Mexican  C.ulf  Railroad;  lid?  votes  cast,  of  which  i")o  were  in  favor  of  the  5.')(l,(iiMi 
subscription 1850 

31 

Dedication  of  the    I'.lliott  .Memorial  Hall 1889 

Moses  Austin  was  in  San  Antonio  about  this  date 1820 

Gennan-Knglish    school  established  about  this  date 1858 

James  and  Resin  I'.  Bowie  are  in  San  .\ntonio  to  organize  the  San  Saba  expedition  1831 

We  have  the  most  i)opulous  city  ol  Texas,  three  main  railroad  lines,  a  perfect  system  of 
water  works,  the  purest  water,  wood  block-paved  ])lazas  and  streets,  several  electric 
street  car  systems,  the  prettiest  ( )pera  and  Club  House  in  the  South,  beautiful  public 
l)uildings.  good  electric  lighting  and  gas  systems,  good  hotels,  a  lovely  river,  a  cli- 
mate .second  to  none  on  this  continent,  efiicient  schools,  three  daily  newspapers, 
the  most  im])ortant  military  i)t)st  in  the  I'nited  States,  immense  markets  for  horses, 
cattle,  wool  and  cotton,  a  progressive  mayt)r,  a  history  inexhaustible  in  interest. 
and  a  magnificent  future 1890 


I' IN  IS. 


Al)VIvRTlSIN(;    AlMMvNDICI.K. 

The  Alamo  Heights. 

A  Very  liovely  Hesidenee  and  Villa  Addition  to  the   City  of 

San  Antonio. 

The  iJiopcrly  in  thf  tieij^liljorhood  of  the  head  waters  of  the  Saii  Antonio  River  has 
always  held  an  undispnted  rcpntation  of  being  the  Garden  Spot  of  Texas.  The  River  rises 
here,  almost  full-grown j  within  the  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  from  great  mysterious 
springs  bubbling  in  translucent  pools  of  limpid  water.  Around  and  above  this,  the  land  is 
luxuriant  to  a  degree  with  fine  trees  and  sylvan  greenery,  and,  while  enjoying  all  the 
attractions  of  a  well  timbered  river  bottom,  it  yet  stands  high  and  above  the  low  lands  and  the 
city,  with  exquisite  views  of  the  fertile  valley  below  and  of  the  mountains  and  hills  reaching 
away  to  the  north.  Giant  Pecans,  Live  Oaks,  Hackberry,  Elm,  Box  Khler,  and  many  other 
noble  trees  are  here  in  profusion,  with  a  rich  sprinkling  of  the  beautiful  Mountain  Laurel,  an 
evergreen  which  in  the  Spring-time  blooms  in  purple  dress  among  the  myriads  of  wild  flowers 
with  which  the  neighborhood  teems  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year.  Such  in  brief  is  an 
unexaggerated  description  of  the  property  acquired  over  a  year  ago  by 

THE  fllamD  Heigtits  improveniBnt  Companu, 

And,  up  to  the  date  of  the  publication  of  this  work,  not  a  lot  has  been  placed  upon  the  market, 
but,  under  the  management  of  Mr.  W.  J.  B.  Patterson,  the  designs  of  Mr.  R.  R.  Salter,  C.  K.,  of 
Denver,  have  been  assiduously  carried  out.  For  a  year  or  more  a  large  force  of  men  has  been 
busilv  employed  to  make  this  place  the  most  desirable  residence  property  of  our  attractive  and 
historic  city.  Landscape  engineering  as  a  science  has  been  brought  to  tone  a  naturally  beautiful 
locality.  Wide  streets,  80  to  100  feet,  with  12-feet  sidewalks,  have  been  graded  and  graveled- 
Drives  and  roads  have  been  constructed  upon  the  contour  lines  of  the  land,  insuring  a  natural 
drainage  of  all  lots.  Parks  have  been  laid  off  and  trimmed,  and  here  the  picturesque  arroyos, 
which  dip  down  to  the  Olmos  creek,  have  been  put  to  very  effective  purpose.  This  creek  runs 
in  an  tuibroken  stretch  of  nearly  a  mile  on  the  west  side  of  this  property  and  empties  itself 
into  the  River,  just  belovr.. 

A  magnificent  drive  has  been  constructed  from  the  city  to  the  Alamo  Heights  Property  by 
the  City  Council,  a  bonus  having  l)een  provided  by  the  Company  towards  this  work.  Along  this 
drive,  starting  from  the  Federal  Building,  an  P^lectric  Street  Car  Line  is  rapidly  being  laid  to 
this  Suburban  Addition,  winding  through  and  around.  Five  miles  of  track,  standard  gauge, 
are  alreadv  under  construction.  The  system  will  be  Thompson- Houston.  Cars  will  start  every 
fifteen  minutes  and  transit  will  l)e  rapid — twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  being  counted  upon  as 
the  usual  rate  of  travel. 

N.  B. — Five  or  six  Ing  springs,  and  fifty  or  sixty  minor  springs  make  this  property  a 
perpetual  paradise,  and  insure  the  purest  of  drinking  water. 

For  particulars,  call  on  or  write  to 

^la/T)o  ]{2\(^\)^s  i^ar^d  ar>d  IfnprouemeQt  <^ompar)y, 

W.  J.   B.   PATTERSON, 

President  and  Genertil  Manager. 

No.   4-2  7   East  Houston  Street,   San  Antonio.  Texas. 


F.   F.   HAINHRIDGK.  ^^'-  CORNER. 

BAINBRIDGE  &  CORNER, 

PUBIJvSIIERS  OF 

San   Antonio  de   Bexar, 

Bv    W.  CORNER. 

BOGKSEl_L_ERS. 

Stationers  and  flews  Agents, 

..x.^^^r.^Tr^IVnc..  San  Antonio,  Texas. 

Books,  Periodicals,  Fine  Stationery  of  All  Kinds, 

Newspapers,  Fancy  Articles, 

Boston  Linen,  Crane's,  Marcus  Ward's  Irish  Linen,  Bond  Writing  Papers. 

Subset iptions  to  Newspapers  and  Magazmes    Solicited. 

Gold  and  Fountain  Pens. 

ir^Koto  ^iews  of-  San  ^ntoniG  and  Vicinity. 

fl^e^ts  for  U/ri?l7t  9  Ditso^'s  lauuQ  Te99'5  (\00<\?>. 

The  largest  collection   of  Fine  Japanese   Ware  in  this  city.     Birthday    Presents  and   Cards. 

Visiting  and  Wedding  Cards  Engraved  in  the  most  Fashionable  Styles. 

I'rogressive  Euchre   Prizes. 

l>roiii|it    l><>llv<-r.v   <>r  hII    KtMidiuK   Mtitter. 


"THE   INTERNATIONAL  ROUTE." 

International  i  Great  florthern  R.  H. 


SHORTEST,   OUICKEST    AND    BEST 
LINE    FROM 

ST.  UeaiS,  MEMPHIS,  KANSAS  GITY, 
GHICAG0,  NEW  YORK 

AND    ALL    POINTS    NORTH    AND    EAST   TO 


PULLMAN    BUFFET   SLEEPING    CARS 

THROUGH    WITHOUT   CHANGE    BETWEEN 

St.  Louis,   Houston,   Galveston,   Austin,   Laredo, 
and   San    Antonio. 


J.  E.  GALBRAITH,  D.J.PRICE, 

TRAFFIC    MANAGER,  ASST.    GEN.    PASS.    AGENT, 

PALESTINE,  TEXAS.  PALESTINE,  TEXAS. 

F.  O.  BECKER,  T.  M.  ORR, 

GENERAL  AGENT,  GEN  ERAL   AGENT, 

GALVESTON,  TEXAS  SAN   A NTON  lO,  TE X AS. 


JjPlIXTES  CLjPlVIN, 


DRaGGIST.        j 

pur?  Drufjs  ai?d  C^ti^mieals,  : 


I  I  I  I  I  I mi'ii 


;     -^PATENT  MEDICINES,-^ 

JToilet  Articles,  Sponges,  Brusl)es,Etc. 


36  West  Commerce  Street,  San  Antonio,  Texas. 


8LI©c  TENG'G, 


WHOIvESAM-;    AND    KKTAII, 


Bool(selle[i  Stationer, 


218  West  Commsrce  Street, 


SAN    ANTONIO,   TEXAS, 


Maps,  Souvenirs,  Stereoscopic  and  other  views  of  the  Cit> . 
The    History-  of   San   Antonio  cle  Bexar  mailed  to  any  part  of  the 
world. 


Tea,  Coffee,  Coeoa,  Spiee  &  Baking  Pooider 

ESTABLISHMENT, 

r.n    WoHt  Coiniiierce  Street,  S»ii  Antonio,  Texus, 

Is  alwav.s  replete  with  choice  pure  j^oods,  and  purchasers 
^y  •>      may  rely  on  getting  honest  value  for  their  money. 

,.  .    ,  '^  Mr.  Holland  is  an  e.rfifrl  in    Teas,  and   personally 

-'■-->-,;>. .'•<t^fiii.<-..w.,>--     "       sui)erintends  the  Tea  Department. 
I'ure  Java,    Mocha,  an<l  otlier  line  CofTecs  arc  being  constantly  roa.sted    and  ground    on 
the  preujises. 

riease  call  upon,  write  or  tPk'i)hone  to  WM.    HOLLAND, 

Telephone  No.  Hll.  ""     •"*'"   ^'"" 


*   KeRRViiiIiE,  Kerr  County,  Texas.  * 

AN   EARtHliY J^ARABISE. 
THE  HEALTH  RESORT  OF  AMERICA. 

Kerrville,  on  the  Guathilupe  river  the  queen  of  Texas  rivers,  is  the  terminus  of  the  San 
Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Railway,  and  is  seventy-one  miles  northwest  of  San  .\ntonio.  It 
has  an  altitude  of  l,ti.j()  feet  above  sea  level,  is  1,070  feet  hij^her  than  San  Antonio,  and  .j-jO 
feet  higher  than  Boerne.  It  has  a  mean  annual  temperatiu-e  of  01  dej^rees.  Six  dej^rees 
al)ove  zero  is  the  lowe.st  temperature  )vV)';k  registered,  and  !)S  degrees  the  highest.  Rainfall 
•11  inches,  with  a  dry,  invigorating  and  health-restoring  mountain  air.  Cieorge  Wilkius 
Kendall  wrote  to  his  paper,  the  New  Orleans  Picayune,  that  if  the  sick  people  in  the  United 
States  could  know  of  the  health-giving  qualities  of  this  mountain  air,  there  would  hardly  be 
standing  room  in  our  lovely  green  valleys. 

Kerrville  is  entirely  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  mountains  and  hills,  which  are  clothed  from 
base  to  summit  with  vegetation.  The  Guadalupe  is  of  incomparable  beauty.  Here  it  winds 
along  the  foot  of  the  hills,  and  its  l)anks  are  fringed  with  ti'ees ;  cedar,  oak,  pecan,  etc.,  in 
summer  affording  a  delightful  shade  for  fishing,  boating,  or  a  stroll  along  its  peaceful  marge, 
inmimerable  creeks  empty  into  it  near  Kerrville.  Along  the  river,  above  and  below  town,  and 
in  the  valleys,  are  numerous  farms,  producing  cotton,  corn,  wheat,  millet,  sorghum,  etc.,  and 
in  the  fields  aiul  meadows  rich  grasses  grow  in  luxuriance.  Kerrville  is  the  trading  and  shipping 
point  for  an  almost  limitless  scope  of  country  for  wool,  hides,  cattle,  sheep,  horses,  mules 
and  hogs.     Much  attention  lately  has  been  paid  to  the  introduction  of  blooded  stock. 

The  San  Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Railway  has  neat  and  commodious  depot  buildings  here. 
The  l-'ort  Worth  and  Rio  (rrande  railway  is  heading  for  Kerrville,  and  ere  many  months  we 
shall  become  a  railroad  center  and  have  a  grand  central  depot. 

The  completion  of  the  S.  A.  &  A.  P.  railway  to  Kerrville,  was  the  open  srsaiiic  to  this  beau- 
tiful region  with  its  fine  farms  and  ranches,  its  alternation  of  rounded  hills  and  broad  valleys, 
its  leaping,  sparkling  water  courses ;  its  broad,  gently  Rowing  river,  its  emerald  and  golden 
lights,  and  its  vitalizing  air.  Air  in  constant  and  gentle  motion.  Ab.sence  of  high  winds; 
bright,  smishinv  days,  and  cool,  breez}-  nights,  even  in  midsummer,  and  the  loveliest  of  land- 
scapes, make  Kerr  county  the  sanitorium  par  excellence  of  America,  especially  for  invalids 
suffering  from  consumption  and  pulmonary  troubles. 

The  rich,  alluvial  soil  of  our  valleys  and  jjlains  l)ack  from  the  rivers,  is  adapted  to  the 
successful  growth  of  the  cereals,  corn  and'cotlon,  and  tin*  acreage  being  cultivated  is  steadily 
on  the  increase. 

Kerr  county  has  a  population  of  some  ;!,700.  Kerrville,  with  her  1,200  inhabitants,  is  the 
couutv  site,  a  little  city  set  upon  a  ])lateau  on  llu'  east  1  tank  of  the  Guadalupe  in  an  amphitheatre 
of  lovely  hills. 

Meii  of  moderate  means,  and  the  will  to  succeed,  can  get  along  in  Kerr  county.  Good 
lands  can  be  bought  at  prices  and  upon  terms  within  the  reach  of  all.  This  is  destined  to 
liecome  a  famous  live  stock  region,  and  especially  desirable  for  the  rearing  of  horses  and  mules. 
With  its  nutritive  native  grasses,  its  pure  water  and  rolling  surface,  strength  of  limb  and  hardness 
of  hoof  are  assured.  Cattle  and  sheep  do  well,  and  stock  is  ])eing  graded  up.  Grood  .schools  are 
nuiintained  throughout  the  country.  Churches  are  in  a  thriving  condition  ;  the  I\piscopalian, 
P.aptist,  Methodist  (South ),  Presbyterian  and  Christian  have  congregations  and  houses  of  worship 
with  resident  ministers.  The  Catholics  will  erect  a  church  at  Kerrville  this  year.  Private 
enterprise  has  given  us  flouring  and  saw  mills  and  cotton  gins.  Kerr  county  has  a  water  power 
unsurpassed  by  any  in  Texas.  We  have  fuel  and  Inulding  material  in  abundance  and  acces- 
sible. To  the  business  man  overcome  by  disease,  who  is  seeking  a  new  lease  of  life,  we  would 
sav,  "stand  not  on  the  order  of  your  coming,"  but  conii'  at  once,  I)efore  the  enemy  has  effected 
a  lodgment,  and  come  to  stay.  Bring  your  eaiiilal  witli  you.  Do  not  fear  that  you  will  find 
no  profitable  investment  for  your  money. 

."Men  who  have  made  some  money  in  ollur  \yM\.>.  will  come  here  to  gain  health.  With 
liealth  restored,  and  enamored  of  the  beautiful  couulry,  lluy  will  eml)ark  in  those  ])ursuils  for 
which  this  section  is  best  adapted. 

The  most  that  we  have  said  of  the  transcendent  healthfuluess  of  this  lovely  valley  ni;iy  be 
claimed  for  the  entire  country  upon  the  head  water  of  our  west  Texas  streams. 

To  that  "somebody's  darling"  whose  life  is  so  infinitely  dear  to  the  loved  ones  at  home, 
and  so  feebly  held  by  the  frailest  of  tenure,  we  would  say  :  Come  to  the  mountains  of  Texas; 
come  to  the  region  of  pure  air  and  clear,  limpid  water  ;  come  before  hope  and  streirgth  arc  too 
far  gone,  and  come  with  a  confidence  that  in  this  vitalizing  atmosphere  you  will  experience  a 
feeling  unfelt  before, 

''A  something  that  inforiiis you  'tix  a  moment  :chence  yon  may  date  heiicc/orK'aid  and 
forever.'''  — 

g^^For  further  information  ai)ply  lo  llu'  Maxor  of  Kerrville,  or  any  eilizen. 


R,    R.    SALTER.  F.    LAMBERT.  S.    «     SLONECKI. 

Civil  Engineers  and  Architects. 

Surveys,   Plans,  Estimates,  Etc.,  for  Railroads,  Cities,  Bridges,  Irrigation, 
Sewerage  and  Water  Supply.     Construction  Superintended. 

*-^   AGENTS  FOR  THE  HEERDEGEN  WATER  INDICATOR.     NO  MORE  DRY  WELLS.    ^^ 

^^<      "• WKTER    CUKRKNTEED. •..•.•      *..       "^^ 

CORRESPONDENCE    SOLICITED. 

Office:  Room  4,  Maverick  Bank  Building,  SAN  ANTONIO,  TEXAS. 

•  MEERSCHEIDT  •  BROTHERS  ---^■- ■■■-■■■■ 

Meerscheidt  Brotlicrs  have  l)eeii  highly  .successful  with  Iheir  three  previous  subdivisions 
ill  this  citv,  because  they  have  dealt  fairly  and  squarely  with  their  customers,  and  in  no  in- 
stance have  they  misrepresented  the  attractions  of  their  properties,  and  have  sold  valuable 
l>ropertv  at  prices  and  ui)on  terms  to  suit  the  pockets  of  home-seekers. 

They  are  now  laying  out  a  lovely  river  subdivision,  one  mile  south  of  the  center  of  the 
i-ity,  within  one  block  of  the  street  car  track,  with  graded  streets  and 

CEMENT   SIDEWALKS, 

with  water  from  the  citv  waterworks,  and  with  the  first  chance  at  the  pure  gulf  breeze.  It  is 
beautifully  wooded  along  the  river  bank  with  giant  pecan  and  hack])erry  trees.  The  lots  are 
exceptionally  large  and  long,  and  are  eminently  adapted  for  villa  and  choice  residences. 
Within  a  short  <listance  of  this  desirable  place 

••••••■■  MEERSCHEIDT  •  BROTHERS    ■••••••■■•.• 

* 

;tre  selling  acre  property . 

Their  Prospect  Hill  property  is  .still  in  the  market.  This  al.so  is  an  airy  and  desirable  place 
in  which  to  live,  and  is  built  up  with  nice  houses  of  influential  citizens.     Klectric  .street  cars. 

Meenscheidt  Brothers  also  do  a  general  investment  and  real  estate  Inisiness,  have  had  a 
va.st  experience,  and  are  well  acquainted  with  the  .safest  properties  of  the  Southwest. 
They  own — for  sale  to  actual  settlers — farm  lands  in  bulk  or  small  portions  in  Frio  county. 
.Ml  terms  will  be  made  easy  and  .satisfactory  to  meet  the  wants  of  their  customers.  They 
refer  to  any  banker  of  the  city  a>/(/  to  their  /or vie r  customers,. 

MEERSCHEIDT  •  BROTHERS  

407  EAST  HOUSTON  STREET. 


THOMAS  HAYNES, 

ATTORNEY    AT    LAW, 
Room   50,    Kampmann   Building.  SAN    ANTONIO,  TEXAS. 


IN     V   St    T.  S.  S.   CO.) 
I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  Ml  I  I  III  I  I  II  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  11 I  llliill  III  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I I  I   1   1  1 I   I  I  I  ■  I  I  I  I   I 

The  only  Line  of  Steamships  Sailing  BetAveen 

NEW-YORK-AND-TEXAS. 

steamers  Lieave  Pier  20,  East  River,  lieuj  York,  for  Galveston,   Texas,    Every    Wed- 
nesday  and    Saturday  at  3  O'eloek  P.  CCi. 

Steamers  laeave  Galveston  for  J^eui  York    Direct   Every   LUednesday   and    Saturday 

frtorning  ito  suit  the  Tide). 
,1,  111  II I I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  III  I  I  II I  I  II  I  I  1 1  I  II I  II  lilt  II  1 1  I  I  ■  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I 

S.  S (IhiiMinji)  .    .  :>,50(lTons 

'S^^'^^B^       ;  S.  S.  Lkona :^,o()0  Tons 

'tM  MH^  11   '  m    -^  ^^IHlV    "  ^"  ^'  Nueces 8,5()OTous 

!^%   "  lffl^  "  ^-  ^"  ^^^^^ o.OOO  Tons 

miV  nil  :  S.  S.  Lampasas 8,000  Tons 

S.  vS.  Alamo 8,000  TonS 

-^^^^^^^^^^—,^—     .  S.  vS.  San  Marcos 2,S40  Tons 

'      '™    v^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^/  :  3  j^    Colorado 2,7(54  Tons 

-  vS.  S.  Rio  Grande 2,500  Tons 

;  S.  S.  STATE  OF  Texas  .  .       .  1,(il)0Tons 
;  S.  S.  City  of  San  Antonio  .  l,i).)2  Tons 

I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  :  i  I  I  1  I  i  I  I  I  I  I I  I  :  I  I  I  i  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  !  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I,  III  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  I  i  I  I  i i  I  I  I 

Oppcring  to  Pirst  Glass  Travelers 

.\F;i,ifiiiricenl  Acconiinodations,  with  Cuisine  and  Attendance  equal  to  the  finest  on  land 
or  sea,  and  at  rates  including  everj-thing  on  Steamer 

Tae  (Cheapest  and  J /Lost  domfortable  I\Gute 

Between  New  York,  all  luislcrii  Cities.  Kurope  and  Texas.  Try  it  and  be  convinced.  THIS 
IS  THK  ON],V  LIXIv  thai  ran  offer  a  ticket  COVERING  P:NTIRR  P^XPENSES  to  or  from 
New  York. 

For  Tickets.  Sailin.i;  Schedules,  Plans  of  Steamers,  and  full  information,  apply  to  Mallory 
J,ine  Agents  thniu^^hont  the  country,  or  address 

SETH  SPRAGUE,  General  Eastern  Agent,  306  Washington  Street.  Boston. 

II.  McMlRTKiE,  Agent,  Cor.  8d  and  Chestnut  Street,  Phihideli)hia. 
II.    McMfRTRiE,  Agent,  20o  East  German  vStreet,   Baltimore. 

B.  E.  Harri.ss,  Agent,  Dallas,  Texas.  W.  I..  Wright,  Agent,  Denver,  Colorado. 
MOSE  Raphaicl,  Agent,  Houston,  Texas.             R.  W.  Southwick.  Agent,  Key  We.st,  p-lorida. 

J.  N.  Sawyer  &  Co.,  Agents,  54  vStrand,  Galveston,  Texas. 

W.  J.  YOUNG,  General  Southern  Passenger  Agent,  San  Antonio,  Texas. 

C.  H.  MALLOHY  &  CO.,  Gen.  Agts.,  Pier  20  E.  R.  and  362  Broadway,  New  York. 


f{.  pa9e6a3t  9  S09, 

^MERCHANT  .  TAILO R S(^ 

AND   THE   LEADING    HOUSE    IN 

GLOTii':NG.  mrS  arjd  FURNIShfiNU  GOODS, 

38    AND    40    WEST    COMMERCE    ST.,  SAN    ANTONIO,   TEX. 

H.   E.   HILDEBRAND.  BEN.   A.  STRIBLING. 

▲     ▲     ▲ 

HiLDEBRAND  &  STRIBUNG, 

^Sp  T^BSTRHCTS. 


We  havespecial  advantages  for  conducting  a  general   land  business  and 

have  the  only  complete  abstract  of  titles  to  lauds  in  Bexar 

County  and  City  of  San  Antonio. 


273  W.  Commerce  St.,      SAN  ANTONIO,  TEX. 


The  "Old  Reliable  Furniture  House"  of 

ReiNHOLD     BECKeR. 

Furniture,  Carpets,  latting.  Art  Squares,  Oil  Cloth 


KND      I_INOL.EU7«V. 


o"«     I  Small  Profits  and  Quick  Sales.  wr  .ue  yours  very  rcspeciruii>. 

"°"°  — ~  REINHOLD  BECKER, 

EBtobliBhed    ISVO  19-20   \A/est  COMMERCE   St  ,  San   Antonio. 


ADOLPH  DREISS, 

PHRH1«AGIST  m  (DAHUFAGTUHIHG  CHE|yiIST. 

DEALER  IN  TOILET  ARTICLES.  SPONGES.  CHAMOIS.  TRUSSES.   CRUTCHES. 
BANDAGES.   ETC.     ALSO  A  LINE  OF  FINE  CUTLERY. 

PARTICULAR  ATTENTION  IS  GIVEN  TO  THE  PRESCRIPTION  DEPARTMENT,  DAY  AND  NIGHT. 
NO.   19   ALAMO    PLAZA, 


M.  E.  JACOBSON 


PHOTOGRAPHER, 


NO.  2   EAST  HOUSTON  STREET, 

S^N    ANTONIO,   TEX^S. 


For  Fine  Photographic  Work   in  all  Styles  go  to  this  place 
you  will  be  pleased. 


PICTURESQUE  SRH  ANTONIO. 

The  Best  Collection  of  San  Antonio  Scenery.     Also  For  Sale  at 

BAINBRIDGE  &  CORNER,  Alamo  Plaza,  and  all  first-class 

Book  and  Fancy  Stores. 


-^ 


ELECTRIC   BELLS,    BATHS,    ETC.,    ETC., 

ON    ALAMO    PLAZA,   100   YARDS    FROM 

U.   S.   COURTHOUSE   AND   POSTOFFICE. 


FORTY    NICELY   FURNISHED   ROOMS, 

WITH    OR    WITHOUT    MEALS, 

FOR  RENT  BY  DAY,  WEEK  OR  MONTH. 

ALAMO    FLATS,    ^§^ 


THE  LEADER M 


216   LU.   Commefee   Street. 


GLOVES,    HANDKERCHIEFS,    HOSIERY,    ETC. 
"Jjf^Agency  for  Foster,  Centemeri  «&  Alexandre  KID  GLOVES^^H^^ 


G.  R.  SUI_I_1VHN 


)^ 


,ea(Hnsr  Dealer  \u 


UfiDlES',  GENTS'  and  CHIliDREN'S 


Boot5,  St70<^5.^5''PP^''5 


A.  la  roe  «tocl<  of  Kine  aod 
Mediian^  lines  cilwctys 
on    hand. 


-^%r 


§ommer(;e  ai}d  St.  /Tlary  5t3. 


^ao  f{r)\:ov)io,  Jexas. 


ALEX.  SMRTOR, 

:_^4==:DIR1V10H0S,  UlRTCHES, 

•:o:  IVIexieetn  -0  piligpee  •<?  Jewelpy  :o:- 

OrSVX     BLOCKS. 


IS  C<>4iiiiiti-i--e  iSti-eet, 


Stin  Aiili>n.i<>-   I'"-'^''** 


ESTABLISHED    1875. 

C.   H.  TV^UEL-LER. 


Wlioh-aU-  aiKl   KLlail    Heal 


Artists'  and  Painters'   Supplies, 

l^ie^lLire   F'l-iimea,   l^Uite  cind    Window  Cxl.iisis, 

Mirrors,   Ete. 

COMMERCE  STREET.  •  ^  SAN  ANTONIO,  TEXAS. 

vS.  K.  Martin,  C/iicagP.  A.  C.  vSchkvvi^k,  San  Antouia. 

MARTIN  &  SCHRYVER, 


Of  all  sorts,  kinds  and  qualities. 

^^BUII-DINC     TVYATERIHL 

Of  all  Kinds,  Shapes  and  Sizes. 

A  lai'i^e  assortment  of  onianiental  goods  always  in  stock.     We  keep  constantly  on 
hand  lartje  quantities  of  the  never  yet  surpassed 

\\'e  are  successful  competitors  in  price  and  goods.     Come  and  be  convinced. 
^OFFICE   OF   YARDS  mBIN   OFFICE , 

South  of  Sunset  Depot.  2  West  Commerce  St. 
H^^SAN   ANTONJO,    TEXAS.:  : 


5 


el7olz's  palm  C(arde9. 


vSTKANtVKKS  should  Hot  fail  lo  visit  this  I'aradise  of  Tro])ii-al  Plants.  Three  Stories 
of  Airy  (ralU-ries.  Rej^ular  Musical  l^veninj^s.  l-ixcjuisite  vString  and  Hrass  Hand.  Ivlectric 
Service  and  l<i.<(hts.  Frequented  by  the  l)est  families.  Card  Tables,  Lunch  Stand,  and 
most  complete   milliard  Rooms  in  the  city. 

Alamo  Plaza  to  Liosoya  Street.  entrances. 


^ORCHN  •  S  •  CO. 

plumbers  .  ai^d  .  (^as-pitt^rs, 

225  E.  Houston  St.,  SAN  ANTONIO,  TEX. 


All  kinds  of  Plumbing,  Gas  and  Steam  Fitting  executed  with  neatness  and  dispatch. 


JOSKE    Bl^OS.     :     BOOTS  sspsHoes. 


JOSKE  BROS 


•  DRV      COODS, 


TMYIUI-INERV, 


NOTIONS. 


HUNT    St    BOOTH, 


WHOLESALE 


GR^IN     ^\ND     S^LT 


SAN  ANTONIO,  TEXAS. 


CAR     UOAD      PRICES     ON     HMY,     GRAIN     AND     SAUT     AT    ANY     POINT     IN     TEXAS,    THE 
SOOTHCUESTERN   STATES   AND   mEXICO 


H.  VOGLER  &  CO.'S 

Alamo  Trunk  Factory 


^  >Tamifactincrs  of  and  deaUr'^  in 

O  '  TRUNKS,  TRAVELING  BAGS,  SATCilELS,  STRAPS,  COLLAR 

Z  AND    CUFF     BOXKS,     LEATHER    TRAVELING    CASES, 

OC  I  LEATHER  GUN  OASES,  ETC.,  ETC. 


?-,       000   ALAMO 


PLAZA, 

THE  ALAMO.         , 


San  Antonio, 

TEXAS. 


Trunks  and  Sample  Cases  made  to  order. 


PAUL  .  WAGNER'S  .   BAZAAR, 


NOS.  22,  24.  &.  26 

COMMERCE    STREET. 

SAN  ANTONIO,  TEXAS. 


IMPOKTKK    AND    DIOAI.KR 


oySi^^^^aney  Sood§. 


"Soiiuepir  plbdjms  of  539  i^i?t:oi}io,"^°;"2'5'c°e 


ROBT.   A.  WOODS. 


VV.    V.   I..vrR.\INK. 


Woods  &  Lauraiine, 


REPRESENTING: 

Laurel  Hiok.hts  I'ropi-.kty. 

Park  Plack  Proi'krty. 

Prospect  Hii.l  Propkrtv. 

Bttsinkss  PROpr-;RTV. 
WnsT  I-;Nri  Property, 

Alamo  Heights  Property, 
East  Eni>  Property, 

Residence  Property. 


Real  Estate  Brokers, 


209    RUAOIO    PUAZR, 


FARmmO     RJiO  RANCH  IiAHDS. 


SRH  ANTOMIO,   TEX. 


C.     H.    PICKFORD 


C.   S.    GREEN. 


FOf^D,  PICKFORD  8t  CO. 

•'^ DEAUERS    IN ' 


MND   pjOOK    ST^LT. 


AGENTS    FOR    "THE   SPRINGFIELD    WAGON    COMPANY." 

SAN    ANTONIO,  TEXAS 


No.  16  East  Main  Plaza 

Telephkone  Ho.  501. 


4-'       \^ 


c^^ 


# 


.  .1.  FRV, 


r\eal    Ci-state.  L'oan    aqd   (general   -A^e^nt, 

l^o.  2  W.  Commerce  St.   •  San  Antonio,  Texas. 


Will  ])ay  Taxes  for  residents  and  non-resideuts.     I.auds  for  sale  in  all  parls  of  llie  Slate. 


THE     HEALTHIEST    AND     MOST    ATTRACTIVE 

SECTION    OF   TEXAS    IS    FOUND    ON    THE    LINE    OF   THE 

SAN  ANTONIO  &  ARANSAS  PASS  RAILWAY 


RUCKER,  HARTWELL  &  CO., 


SCCCKS.SOkS    TO 


Rucker,  Dignowity  &  Co., 

NO.    1    \V.   HOUSTON  ST.. 

San   Antooio,     ^     ^     ^I'exas. 


• 


IWadame  E.  p.  Duke, 

SOLE    PROPRIETRESS  OF 

Df.  Harlan's  IWedieated  Vapor  Baths 

The  Most  Practical  and  Effectual  Treatment  for 

Dengue,  Fever,  Rheumatism 

AND  KINDRED  CHRONIC  DISEASES. 

TETV^RL-ETON'S     EYE     ^aZT^TER 

Is  a  Good  and  Tried  Medicine  and  will  Positively  Cure  the  Worst  Cases. 

Madame  E.  F.  DUKE, 

Corner  of  Blum  and  Bonham  Streets.  San    AntOniO,    TexaS. 


TRANSLATIONS   OF  ALL  LANGUAGES. 

TEACHER  OF  THE 

^rcncb,  bpanisi]  <xVi^  €uglisl]  languages, 


IN    CLASS    AND    PniVATE 

48     NORTM     STFJEJET. 


GEORGE    DULLNIG, 

Cilholesale    Grocer, 

DWLLNIG      BLOCK. 

Alamo,   Commeree  and   Liosoya   Streets, 

Skn  Antonio,  TexKS. 


p.  p.  QolliQS  /T\a9ufa(;turi9(§  Qo., 

WIND  MILLS,   BOILERS  AND   ENGINES,  STEAM  PUMPS 
AND  WATER  SUPPLY  MATERIAL. 


1,  3,  5   AND   7    EAST    HOUSTON    STREET. 
SAN    ANTONIO,    TEXAS. 


MISSION  OIL  COMPANY, 
Star    Oil,   Stove   Gasoline 


AND  ALL  K  NDS  OF 


ILLUMINATING  AND  LUBRICATING  OILS. 

NO.  18  ALAMO  STREET,  OPPOSITE  SCHOLZ'S  GARDEN. 

SKN     KNTONIO,    Te><:KS. 


J.    RONSE.  A     WAHLSTAI 

ROHSE   &   UiAHLiSTAB, 

WHOLESALE  DEALERS  IN 


— % 


■'    kb) 


VJUipes,  Cic|uor5  a^d  ^i(^ars  g 


BENNETT  BLOCK,  COMMERCE  STREET. 

S.A.N  ANTONIO,       -       TEX>\H. 


Iiamter,  Sash,  Doors,  Blinds 

f\r)d    Buildi9(^  /r\aterial  Q(^r)((ra\\y. 


OFFICES  ANO   YARDS   AT 


I.  4  G.  N    DEPOT.  TELEPHONE  No   205,  AND  AT  Can     Qnhnnin  Tov^c 

SUNSET   RAILWAY    CROSSING,    'ELEPHONE    No.     167,  J°W        pl/».UI^IU,  l^CAaO. 

East  Commerce  Street.         '^  '  ' 

BRANCH  YARDS  AT  COMFORT,  TEXAS. 


'>^^<?^f^^nd  ^e/€>4€  dtz^T'i^e  -fd  d^/iA-etz   lir^  <^€dA.    i^fi-4€/d  ^^'fiei^z^^4J 


a-^/tiz  (z/  ('■fyc^     i^iz4izd    €)^-n  ^ad iT '^W<^->^-^ze4-re  -'^/'l^ff.   ^fAeic  /U/iy' 

(Jf^f/e,    erf /Y  of     'AAc^i?^    <zd  /z^i    A4f eej . 

^€/.    ^/r-^'ed    ^    ^C'?-^d. 


riiiv    1n.ix(;hi.i:\'    KiCisiDKNci;    .\xlj    i->,\xi  r.\  wii  :\i. 

No.  10  Ivltu  St.,  cor.  Starr,  three  blocks  from  Alamo  I'laza,^ 

1-or  the  care  and  treatment  of  DISEASES  OF  WOMEN,  of  the  CHEST,  and  of  CHRONIC, 
NON-CONTA(il()r.S  DLSEASES.  (iood  diet,  home  inflnences.  modern  appliances,  treatment 
medical  and  surs^ical,  and  constant  snpervision,  are  important  featnres  of  this  inslitntion. 

B.    F.    I<inoHle>-,    M.    I)., 

Physicians  in  charge. 


GEO.    H.     KALTEYER. 


ESTABLISHED  1856. 


GEO.   J.    F.  SCHMITT. 


F.   KALTEYER    &  SON, 


WHOLESALE   DRUGGISTS, 

IMPORTERS  AND  EXPORTERS 


AND    DEALERS    IN 


PHOTOGRAPHIC    STOCK. 


TELEPHONE    No.   232. 
POST    OFFICE    BOX    1128. 


507.  509  apd  511  U/e3t  ($omm(^re(^  St. 


SAN    ANTONIO,   TEXAS. 


SAM    MAVERICK  PROPR. 


L.W.MENGER,  CASHIER. 


t^%ffl<'>*i'''^'''J)<lllll 


i^ 


Ulabnirli  |lmrtim|  %)n\m  >^ 


SAM.  MAVERICK,   PROPR. 


^, 


mm 

Igiiiisisss  Hi 

SJgCBBS  III 


^;;i -•!;  ill*    7 
nil   I  nil       . 


f^ANFS 


.v> 


.Jfl''-      EQUIPPED 
ijUl''^        OFFICE    IN   THE 
i         ^  4  4  SOUTH. 

k     _%>"rC>^IO  ALL     MACHINERY 

V— V^^     1^1^11.^^^      OPERATED   BY 
-*•  ^^   — , —  --^^^W- ELECTRICITY 


JAMES  DURYEE  STEVENSON, 


I  Kormerh  ol  tlu-  H;ii  ofN'iw  \oik  Cit 


Attorney  ^*«  Counselor  at  bauj, 

Also,  Solicitor  and  Standing  Master  in  Chancery  of  the 
Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States;   also, 

THE     KAMPMANN     BUILDING.         take  elevator 
SPECiAi/riKs:     Coimnercial    Law,    Collertions,   and  Real    l^stalp  Law   in  all  its  l)ranche.s. 
I  refer  (withont  permission)  to  United  States    and    vState  Judges  and  Court  Officers  in  the 
Western  District  of  Texas,  and  to  all   Banks  and  Bankers  of  the  city. 


JTs  IiAMU'IMIltf: 


MAXl    KACrrKICK     OK 


Saddlery  gjlarness 

Wholesale  and  Retail   Dcak-r  in 

Leather,   Saddlery   Hardware, 

Ready-iVlade  Baggy  Tops 

Rubber,  Enameled  and  White  Duck, 

AND     EVERYTHING     IN     THE    CARRIAGE    TRIMMING    LINE. 


Mexican    Hairf  Bridles,    Quirts  -  Ridin<^    CUhips, 
and    Liassoes, 

ANGORA    SKINS    AND    OTHER    PELTS. 

309  and  311  Main  Plaza,  SAN  ANTONIO,  TEXAS, 


The  Healthiest  and  ffiost  Rttraetive  Section  of  Texas 

IS  FOUND    AMONGST    THE   HILLS  AND   FERTILE  VALLEYS  ON  THE   LINE  OF  THE  SAN 
ANTONIO   AND  ARANSAS  PASS  RAILWAY,   NORTH   OF  SAN   ANTONIO.       SEE  S.   A.  &  A. 
P.    RAILWAY   MAP. 
I   havf   I'iii'iii'^  and    KuikIk-h   tor  sale   in    K<-n<lalI   and  Kandrra  <'(>(int  i<  s,  and   (  it.v   rropirt.v   in 

The  well   known    HealMi   Kesort   and   County  Seat  of   Kendall  <'oniit.v.     Tlieie   is  a   Daily   Alail  and 

Sta>jc  l.in«'  lM"twe«'n 

BOeRNE     HND     BHNDERH, 

A    DiNtance    of    ir.    Miles,    the    latter    Town     beiny:  the   County   Seat   of   |{an<leia   <  oiinty. 

W.   G.   HUGHES,    Real    Estate   Agent. 

Post  Office,  Hastings,  Kendall  County  (on  border  of  Kendall  ami    IJander:    <\Minties  . 


EliITE  RESTAURflHT  AflD  SflliOO|l 

->--riSH.  GAriE  ANB  OYSTERS -•> 

AND  ALL  THE    DELICACIES   OF  THE    SEASON  ALWAYS  ON  HAND. 
MEALS  TO  ORDER  AT  ALL  HOURS, 

WITH     EXCLUSIVE    DINING    ROOM     FOR    FAMILIES 

Main    Plaza    and    Soledad    Street.      Ladies'    Entrance,   Soledad  Street. 
J.  LOUSTAUNAU  &  CO.,  Proprietors. 


'^ 


■u^^-^^-^ 


u^^-z^^My 


FACULTY. 

w 

C.    BUCKMAN, 

President. 

1          B. 

1 

F.  Williams, 

Principal. 

'         E. 

M.   Barhkr, 

Principal. 

'          C. 

K.   Bai-1., 

Principal. 

T.  T.  Downey, 

Principal. 


Charlks  Johnson, 

Operator. 


COURSES. 

BusiNKss  Course. 

•^ 

SHORTHANn  (Eclectic  and 
Sloan-Ouployan  Systems). 

s*. 

Type-Writin(;. 

Telegraphy. 

ir^ 

Normal.   Scientific  and 
Mathi:m.\tical. 

Normal  1'enmanship. 

English,     Spanish      .and 
German. 

GEO.     DULLNIG    BLOCK. 


Occupies  the  third  floor  of  this  large  and  handsome   building,   and  is,   without  doubt  to  the 
knowing,  the  only  absolutely  first-class  institution  of  its  kind  in  the  State  of  Texas. 

Its  illustrated  catalogue  is  a  master-piece  of  art  and  beauty,  and  should  be  in  every 
household  as  an  index  to  a  School  of  Business  and  Normal  training,  whose  influence  and 
popularity  are  felt  and  recognized  throughout  the  land. 


B.    F.   Cobs,   president 


Geo     a.   oascomi 


A.    J.    SCHUREMAN,    Sec    T     ANO    The* 


mited 


SAN     ANTONIO,    TEXAS. 

LONG  LEAF  YELLOW  PINE 


.\r  \vi  K  )i.ics.^l.e:. 

HNILIiONI)   MNTKinSL    N  SPKllSLT) 


J.   S.   AI.I'.XAXDI'R,    /'rfsidfn/.  A.    A.    A  M'X  A  NI  )}vK,    Cas/iif,. 


Thxas  National  Bank, 


l^oH     CoiTii-nerce     Street, 


SjPLi<r    jPLi<nroKrio,    tezxijPlS. 


DIRECTORS 


J.   S.   ALEXANDER,   President. 

H.   B.   ANDREWS,    Capitalist. 

WM.   HEUERMANN,   Hugo  &  Schmeltzer,    Wholesale  Grocers. 

AMOS  MORRILL,    Heywood  Bros.   &  Co..    Cardner,   Mas 
A.  A.  ALEXANDER,   Cashier. 


The    Accounts   of  Business    Firms,   Corporations  and 
Capitalists  Solicited. 


1 1 N  V  tCJS'I'  M  K  N  TS     M  .0^  1 )  t : . 


BILLS    DRAWN    ON    THE   CITY    BANK,    LONDON 

Mexican  Dollars  and  other  Foreign  Money  Boue^ht  and  Sold. 


JlpartoeDt  House 

Cor.  Houston  vs^  Jefferson  Sts., 

Fitted  up  with  all  moileru  iiuprovenients,  on 

EUROPlAl  PLAN. 


RESTAURANT    CONNECTED    WITH    HOUSE. 

New  Building,  fitted  up  with  Entirely  New  Furniture. 

Reception  room  on  rirst  Hoor  for  convenience  of  quests.       Southeastern 

exposure.      Large,  airy  rooms.      Steam  heated  throughout. 

ilot    and    cold    baths.      Gas.       Electric    Ixdls. 

Elevators.      Fire  escapes. 

EVERYTHING    ENTIRELY    NEW. 

MRS.  HOCKETT 


liad  five  years  txpci 


SUITES  OF  ROOMS,  WITH  PRIVATE  BATH  ROOMS. 
Houston  Street,  opp.  Maverick  Hotel. 


Hflf^rilSCH  St   BAEH, 


15  COMMERCE  STREET  AND 
OPERA  HOUSE  BLOCK, 


TU^T^INWFT^CTUReRS     OR 


PURE  CANDIES, 

Decorated  Cakes  of  all  Kinds,  Styles  and  Sizes. 

RESTAURANT  AND  CONFECTIONERY,  OPERA  HOUSE  BLOCK. 


THEY    ALSO    MAKE    A   SPECIALTY   OF 


FINEST  ICE  CREAM  AND  FRUIT  ICES. 


Orders  Delivered  with  Neatness  and  Dispatch 


HERM  HARMS, 


2^  liT  E 


TAILOR-MADE    CLOTHING 

GENTS'  FURNISHING  GOODS,  HATS,  SHOES  and  NOVELTIES. 


SPECIALTY 


Custom  Made  Shirts  and  Clothing. 


Opera  House  Building,  Alamo  Plaza, 


San  Antonio, 


Texas 


Commerce,    Navarro   and    Crockett  Streets,     SAN  ANTONIO,  TEXAS. 

J I      I      I      I      I  I      I      I      I      I      I      I   4      I      I      I     I      ■      I     I     I     I     I     I      l_ 

I  r-TIi  ■  :THK   LARCHST: 

|l|  :  House-furnishing  Goods  Establislinient 

.i^f*^^-.  \  IN  THE  STATE. 


Crockery,  China,  Earthernware 

and  Glassware  from  every 

part  of  the  Globe. 
Hric-a-Brac,  Cut  Glassware,  Silverware, 
Cutlery,  Lamps,  Gas  Fixtures,  Man- 
tels, Fire-place  Goods,  Wrought  Iron 
Goods,  Japanese  and  Chinese  Goods. 
Household  articles,  Gasoline  vStoves. 
Kitchen  utensils,  Tinware,  Wooden- 
ware,  Brushes,  Washing  Machines  and 
General  Laundry  articles,  etc.,  etc. 


^^  E   Hotel  and  Saloon  Supplies. 


'iiii'i "ii  1 .1 1 .1 1 1 1 1 1 II 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 


OUR  MOTTO:  "  WE  CANNOT  BE  UNDERSOLD. 


1858  ESTABLISHED  1858 

F.   I.  Mt;VKH, 


^1^ 


No.  35West  Side  Alamo  Plaza.  :  ^^^^aL^  I         Telephone  No.  280. 


The  Pioneer  Wine  Merchant 


WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL  DEALER   IN 


IMPORTER  OF 


Foreign  and  California  wines.  LiQuors. 

CORDIALS,  Etc. 
Sai"!^    A.t\tor\i(),     -      -      -     Texeii 


ALL  COUNTRY  ORDERS  PROMPTLY  FILLED, 


781082 


-/-3'^^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATx. 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  REH-URN 
^ms  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $..00  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


___S£B_12a340 — 


^EP~i31940 


j(Tf     7    ^^^^' 


OTITSTT^ 


ii,^ 


''  g-i, 


-i2te 


^»rT 


^"^S-f9^ 


■^TETjTfT 


^«H?#a:^! 


NOV    6  «»i'i 


RE<aaiihJ6RR 


1 


